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The Last Spartan by Ghost Sniper
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Part 1 Awakening
Date: 30 September 2003, 6:33 AM
Authors Note: I KNOW! It's just the Halo story. But the next time some bum asks you why Halo is so good you can direct them here for the story (Hopefully after you have given them a severe bashing for ignorance of the great game). Plus it has some cool action sequences, even if they are confusing.
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It was cold; it was always cold in space it never changes. Of course "Chief" had been cryogenically frozen for the hyperspace. "Chief" as he had been nicknamed was a 41-year-old genetically modified super soldier. Who at the moment was that the rank of Master Chief and was the only title his comrades knew him by.
He was a result of the government project designed to fight an alien race known only as, the Covenant. The covenant, a band of alien races who are together only by there hatred and passion for the destruction of humanity. A war against Humans and the Covenant started almost three decades ago. The Covenant believed that the destruction of humanity was the will of the gods; obviously humans didn't really like this. Humans fought strong and hard but due to the Covenants superior numbers and superior weapons it was a losing battle. Chief's project was code-named Spartan II, he was the last Spartan left for all of the others lay dead on "Reach", a planet from whence he had just came.
The suit that he had been wearing for 30 hours came to life and began to give readouts on the HUD. His suit was comprised of metallic green armour all over with black soft material on the inside poking through tiny cracks of the armour. His helmet was a large armoured box that covered his entire head; the only way to communicate was through a crackling radio on the helmet's front. This often put strangers on edge and uneasy around him. His visor covered most of his face and looked like piercing Cyclops eye viewing the entire battlefield watching everyone's movements.
On the inside the visor showed reliable statistics, his vital signs, his shield energy, his light battery, a device that monitored what type and how much ammo he carried on his suit. His suit was state-of-the-art which included a device that plugged into his brains thoughts empowered the suit; in doing so this increased his reactions to that of a quarter of an average human.
Another little modification he never dreamed of was a rechargeable shield. His shield would take all physical damage then recharge when no damage was being taken. Although limited in its energy, so as not to make him invulnerable, it had already saved his life many times.
"Sorry about the quick thaw, Master Chief" the technician next to his cryo-tube broke his train of thought. "The disorientation should pass quickly, I gave you a double dose of the wake up stim. Things are a little hectic right now."
"Welcome back sir, we'll have you battle ready stat." Said the tech from the bulletproof observation window. (For security reasons)
"Okay chief we are going to activate your monitoring systems".
His health vitals popped up on his visor, a few blue blocks showed his overall health if they turn red then disappeared. Well it was something Chief really wanted to think of.
"Showing green across the board." Said the tech from the window.
"Great now we just have to get a calibration for your suits looking abilities." Just hurry up chief thought to himself he was getting impatient.
"Chief, please look around the room."
He did as he was told and looked at the surroundings it looked calm enough. The metal of all United Nations Space Command (UNSC) battle space ships was always the same boring and metallic shine. The cryo-bay where he was now was no exception the only colour came from the overalls of the helping technicians.
"Thanks, looks fine to me" said the tech on the floor, "okay you can get out of your tube, sir" to
Finally Chief thought to himself, he grasped both sides of the tube and pulled himself out. As he did he felt old, he was old, he was 41 and had spent 20 years as a Spartan. He started his Spartan training at age six and had been one ever since. He dropped to the floor; the echo that followed was creepy.
"Thank if you'll follow me to the shield testing station, Sir" the tech said leading him to the testing station.
Chief followed and stood in the energy shield testing area. On his visor a read out showed his Shields energy by a blue bar that would decrease in sizes as the energy did. Funnily enough it was over his health bar as if it was protecting it which it was. "Seems fine to me, okay sir let's check the recharge" he braced himself for the charge that would only drain his shields, or so they say. Chief rarely trusted anyone or anything. The bar began to spin around him it powered up and released its energy into him. He was still alive, that's a good thing, he looked at his shield but it was already recharging.
"Recharging normal, cycle complete". Over the loudspeaker came a huge booming voice.
"Bridge to cryo-bay two, this is Captain Keyes, send the Master Chief to the bridge immediately". Captain Keyes was a great leader and was a veteran in the field. One of the few people who Chief respected. So did many in the United Nations space command.
"But sir will have to skipper workers diagnostic..." the tech trailed off.
"On the double crewmen for." Keys emphasise the last part.
"Aye aye, sir." The tech turned to Chief "the skipper seems jumpy, we'll find your weapons later".
"I'll keep the self diagnostics running," said the tech still in the window.
"You better get to your evacuation-point then Sam" said the tech on the floor.
"Right just restarting the computer..."
The door besides Sam started to rumble followed by clearly a roar like an animal. The door burst open showing two dark figures looking the same in their blue and red body armour. These were Elites. Elites where just one of the races in the Covenant. These where the strongest the covenant had in there ranks and the most lethal. Eight-foot six tall in an Elite could be a worthy advisory. All elites were equipped with a rechargeable shield like Chiefs (In fact the human store the technology from them). Chief had been close-quarters with one and saw what its real strength was like. One could wipe out a squad of marines in minutes, they where rarely found in groups, which was fortunate.
The tech grab for his radio and called "security at cryo-bay two they're trying to breakthrough..." the blue elite pounced on him, viciously throwing the tech across the room. The tech fumbled from the standard issue 9mm pistol, before he could the blue elite was firing it's deadly plasma rifle and did not stop until the red elite grabbed his arm. It looked around the room then through the glass it saw the two humans in the bay below. He began firing but nothing happen; he ran for them and bashed the glass. It didn't budge, that's human unbreakable the red Elite barked an order (red was obviously a high rank) and both ran from room.
"Sam, Sam" the tech cried, "come on" he said to chief "we got to get the hell out of here," the only door slid open as he ran across room.
"Quickly this way" the tech said.
Outside was a deserted hallway, well lit, identical to all of the hallways on the ship no matter the size. Chief and the tech ran down, the later a bit ahead because Chief was a bit drowsy still. They got to the door; the tech punched in his key code went to open it but the door suddenly exploded.
The door bent back towards and debris came flying through the flames. Both fell over by the blast wave. Chief went to grab the tech; he took one look and turned away. The tech was not going anywhere; face up eyes wide open and spread-eagled he was not moving at all; the large bloodied block of debris above his head told the story as well.
Chief was alone now, the way he liked it, and the way he worked. He saw halfway down a side passage. He peered in it was a maintenance area which opened to another hallway. He climbed through. This hallway was empty to; he turned right and went through another door. The hallway was silent, to silent, he went on slowly ready to pounce on anything suspicious.
Unarmed combat was a big thing in his Spartan training 2 hours every day. He crept forward to about six feet from the door. The rest of the roof from him to the door suddenly exploded and fell to the ground. Chief jumped back and was barely bruised improved reflexes was just one of the numerous modifications made during his genetic alterations. He continued to the door and under a stuck blast door to arrive on a battlefield, his only home.
Two elites were to the left of him while three techs where defending on the right, only with there pistols. Chief was still unnoticed and bashed the blast doors controls to put an invincible barrier between each other. There was barely three inches before the door would close when a glowing ball was souring through the air. The grenade exploded upon reaching the ground throwing one tech across room. He was already dead when he hit the ground his lifeless eyes staring back at Chief.
Chief turned back to the doors the elites where so close that there breath misted the glass, there muffle shouts where put to an end when the two steal plates completed their journey completing the blast door sequence. He knew they would meet again in combat another time and one would die, Chief would then see it breath it's last stinking breath.
An explosion cracked the silence, chief swung round to see 2 techs being chased by a pack of aliens. Chief ran to them turning on the blast doors again. He went to help one through the closing door. The tech froze with fear, cowering. Chief was about to run in and get him when a bright light lit up the hallway. The explosion was so close Chief's ears were still ringing when he fell back through the door.
The sudden silence was unrealistic even though the techs where safe they won't be for long. Chief had to go leaving behind two very freighted techs and a dead body. He headed through a side passage, the door opened three feet ahead of him automatically. Chief was faced with an Elite staring him face to face. The elite's shield burst into life, a crackling barrier of energy as two marines came from behind a door. Chief had launched his knee into the air heading for the elite's stomach. The marines took his attention once it recovered from his attack, they where well trained dodging the elites attacks.
Foreseeing defeat the elite went through an unlocked door down the hall blood trailing from his left thigh. "Would you look at him run like the dog he is" said one the marines. The second helped chief from where he was knocked down and was surprised at what he found.
"Wow, so it's true, there is one of you guys aboard". Chief wasn't listening instead he was looking him up and down. He seemed like an ordinary space marine.
In a green uniformed jumpsuit, with body armour covering all part except limb joints. Standard lightweight boots and standard helmet with an eyepiece that gave vital statistics and recorded the battles he'd seen. Everything seemed normal except something was different. Chief remembered that this was the first time in a while he talked to a marine. He had mostly been with other Spartans.
"You're a master chief right, I've heard the talk. Chief you're properly after the captain he's at the bridge just goes down the hall". He said gesturing just behind him. Chief nodded.
"Well see you around, I'm Joe if you want you know." Chief didn't seem to register for as soon as he finish, Chief left. Joe turned to his comrade, "OK lock 'n' load, where not dead...yet"
Part 2 soon + Input welcome
Part 2 Malice
Date: 30 September 2003, 6:35 AM
Chief continued to see but another battle raging. Plasma bolts and bullets were flying madly, ricocheting off walls and into people. Chief took cover for the humans had created a brilliant barrier of small portable blast shields and boxes stacked between the two. The blast doors just forward of the humans began to close. Once they did, the only soldier in the group shouted to chief from across the hall.
"Chief, Captain Keyes wants you on the bridge ASAP, you'd better follow me."
The marine guided chief through an armoury full of empty cartridges and half blown up blast shields. A squad of soldiers where in there as well. He walked straight past them; he was a soldier, not a medic which is what they need.
As a squad goes they were immobilised, two of them didn't even have legs, the Sergeant (Wearing the standard sergeants cap) was coughing up blood, and there was blood all over the floor. Another skirmish was awaiting them through the armoury door. "Get clear Chief!" Shouted the guide. Chief began to run; the marine armed a frag grenade and ran after him.
The standard issue fragmentation highly explosive grenade soared through the air and bounced off a wall and rolled below an elite's foot. The little screen on the grenade began to flash green and red telling it was ready for activation. The deafening explosion reached even where chief had run to, bits of fragment ricochet of the tight corridor. The elite had caught most of the blast and was beyond any recognition, his friend caught a piece of fragment and lay beside him dead.
Chief and his guide reached the bridge soon after. "Captain Keyes is waiting for us sir." The bridge was a bland grey area with two rooms surrounded by a hallway dotted with computer terminals. The front room held Captain Keyes. A true Captain of the field, stress had caused his black air to turn grey on the sides. Looking professional in his crisp officers uniform, standing tall in the panic around him. A sturdy rock in the river of chaos. In front of him was a transparent screen that was now showing a map of the known local area, which was not very much.
In front of that still was the driving "cube". It literally was a glass cube where the drivers could see nothing but space around them. Chief could see through the glass in-between the ship and a distant planet was a ring. About the size of earth, a metallic ring floating in space it was very odd. Orbiting the planet it looked a little like a halo.
Oceans and continents were visible on the inside, which looked strange considering it was the metallic wasteland on the outside. Chief only stared at it for a few seconds but it still sent a shiver down his spine
"Captain Keyes" boomed Chief from behind him. Chief's voice was forceful but strangely normal. He wasn't exactly booming although in a crowded room if he talked it would become fairly silent. A good military voice, wasted though Chief thought action spoke louder than words.
"Master chief, good to see you, we are in trouble, Cortana did her best but we never had a chance." Keyes was never glorified as a hero but he had won many important victories and when he gave up hope everyone might as well. But someone hadn't, Cortana.
Cortana was the shipboard AI she took care of everything from troop deployment to food store management. Cortana uninterrupted just then the holo-graphic projection popped up from the projection pedestal beside Keyes.
"One single Halcyon-class cruiser up against a battle group of superior covenant Capital ships. With those odds-on content with three..." She paused for a few seconds as a rumble went through the ship. "Make that four kills." She turned to chief on her pedestal.
"Sleep well."
"No thanks to you're driving, yes."
"So you did miss me."
Cortana and Chief had worked together many times and had become comrades. In fact his battle suit had been modified to house the ship AI for increased security. Which was essential fighting the covenant. They wanted to get their dirty hands on a human AI since this war began.
The muffled explosion rocked the bridge temporarily stunning everyone. Keyes recovered first
"Status report." Cortana fizzled back to life
"Atmosphere breach on deck 11 must have been one of there anti-matter charges."
"Ma'am fire control to the main cannon is offline." Came a shout from the cube.
"Dam, Captain the Cannon was my last offensive option."
"All right that's enough, I'm initiating Cole protocol article 2. Where abandoning the Autumn."
The Cole protocol was made a few years ago. It told how UNSC ship should continue when facing defeat against a covenant ship. Some major points were all cripple ships self-destruct rather than capture, fleeing ships to avoid Earth bound sectors even if it meant blind space jumps (which is how they came to the very situation now). Capture of a shipboard AI was a big no on the protocol as well.
Cortana butted in "while you do what go down with the ship?"
"In a matter of speaking. The object we found, I'm going to try and land the Autumn on it."
The "Pillar of Autumn" was the name given to the ship which they where currently on. It literally was a pillar, a long rectangular prism floating through space. The bridge was situated at the front down below like a chin. Which confused Covenant attack ships who fired at the top missing the concealed bridge. The Autumn was chosen for a secret mission (Which Chief was a part of) before the planet it was docked at was overrun and the Autumn was forced to lure the Covenant from Reach, that was very close to Earth. Unfortunately it worked and this pillar was getting pounded.
'With all due respect, sir' Cortana said 'this war has enough dead heroes.'
'I appreciate you concern Cortana,' Keyes said in a slight smile 'but it's not up to me. The protocol is clear. Destruction or Capture of a shipboard Ai is absolutely unacceptable, and that means your leaving the ship. Lock in a selection of landing zones, up load them to my neural lace, and then sort yourself for an immediate transfer.'
'Aye, Aye sir' Cortana said disappointedly.
Keyes turned to Chief. 'Which is where you come in. Get Cortana off this ship. Keep her safe from the enemy. If they capture her they'll learn everything; force deployment weapons research...Earth.' Smart, the only way to get Cortana was to kill Chief; he had a funny feeling that of all the humans on this ship he would be the last to die.
'I understand.' Was all he said.
Cortana came blaring back, 'The autumn will continue evasive manoeuvres until you initiate a landing sequence. Not that you'll listen but I'd suggest letting by sub routines to handle the final approach.'
'Excellent work Cortana' beamed Keyes 'Thanks, are you ready" Cortana looked around the bridge for perhaps the last time memorising the faces of people who where certain to die, who knew and who showed it, her gaze finally rested on Chief looking at the visor unable to see his emotions. For a split second she though she could see through it and remembered the mans file photo before the Spartan program, a child only six innocent and care free his ruffled hair draping in front of his eyes a smile that showed he had a prank set up just waiting for someone to activate it. Then she saw the man's face only two days ago, an empty face, eyes with nothing except a black cloud hiding the faces of people who had died in the pupils reflection, the innocent smile changed to a forceful smirk one that held only joy in killing.
'Yank me.' Keyes pulled her chip out of the holo-display and handed the chip to Chief
'Good luck Master Chief.'
Chief put Cortana's chip into his helmet and her voice could be heard working in the background.
Keyes handed him his service pistol. 'I don't keep it loaded, so you'll have to find ammo as you go.' The dead weight of the M6D pistol felt reassuring, like a missing glove on a winters night. A very efficient pistol easy to produce, easy to use. It was equipped with a 2x scope good for long range shooting. Chief picked up a mag from a nearby tech, 12 bullets of high explosives armour piercing rounds capable of knocking anything off its feet. A weapon Chief loved and kept at his side.
Without a word Chief left the bridge looking for a fight, looking to show his talent. Just outside the bridge stood three grunts standing around. Grunts were the smallest and weakest of the religious motivated Covenant army, however they were also the most numerous mainly used as cannon fodder. As blue as their ice cold planet the only differentiation was by the colour of their life support packs looking comical on there small bodies. They also had voice translators to talk and to interrogate field prisoners; it also helped put an enemy uneasy. The voice was always the same, a nasally pig or dog that broke the air. Chief jumped around the corner, saw two orange minor grunts and one red major grunt. The bullet popping into the barrel could be heard before Chief fired. The flash lit up the hallway as the red grunt fell to the ground. The other grunts started to run; he caught one on the back of the skull with his pistol butt. Chief used his 2x scope on the pistol integrated above the barrel. He fired, the shell landed in the middle of the grunts life support. It sparked a fire and like a dancing ember the grunt continued down the hall. Next-door was a cafeteria, some food stains still fresh due to the immediate surprise of the Covenant attack. Opposite from where Chief entered an elite was keeping a few marines busy.
'Time to do your stuff' Cortana said calmly.
'All over it' Chief said back.
A small blockade had been put up and many marines where hiding behind it, Chief ducked behind.
'Good to see you sir.' Yelled a marine.
'Anyone have an Assault Rifle.'
'Simon won't need his anymore.'
An Assault Rifle began its pass down the line to Chief. A standard issue rifle to all marines in the UNSC. A black behemoth it looked more like a flat lump of lead than a sophisticated piece of weaponry. Chief went to grab the slightly protruding handle. Blood oozed through his fingers to stain his green armour on the other side. Poor Simon. The digital readout on the top said '60'. A full clip of 7.62 mm armour piercing bullets (Simon obviously didn't last long) capable of being fired at 600 bullets per minute. He jumped over the barricade and charged them. Two grunts bowled over one began to run away then only the elite remained. Chief looked at the readout '30' He ran up and kicked the elite in the shins; it went down onto its knees. Chief brought down the gun over its neck finishing the Elite off. Three marines came in from the door in front of him.
'What a mess!' said the Sergeant. To the far end on Chief's right two doors opened letting in a swarm of Covenant. A battle emerged men using tables as inadequate cover against the aliens. A blue ball far from Chief went flying through the air. A plasma grenade. A normal grenade except it stuck to things. Not only that it could choose what to stick to, it seemed mainly if the object was biological or with a sufficient heat signature, the humans just had no idea. A marine had moved too late and now a blue pulsating glow coming from his leg. He had three seconds to live and by looking at his face he knew it. He got up and ran towards the covenant knocking out two grunts and head butting an elite. He grabbed the last Elite by it's armour and shouted into it's ear
'We'll finish this in hell!'
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