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Chapter 6: The Coup of the Triumphant
Posted By: Enthrone Darkness Triumphant<admiralprestoncole@yahoo.com>
Date: 6 March 2009, 12:25 am
Read/Post Comments
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Just to let everyone know, I am getting rid of the marshalls accent, it keeps throwing me off when I write it like that and spellcheck goes nuts. I'll just say he was acting the whole time. I'll be sure to include that bit in Chapter 5 when I get it done, and so I will explain its situation. Chapter 5 has alot of things happening and I am having a rough time getting it together, but the beauty of Chapter 4 and 5 are that they can be taken out and the story can flow like nothing happened.
Cheers and enjoy the chapter
(plus I am looking for a beta to check over my work and offer me advice before I unleash my works to be dissected by the horde on HBO)
--
The Palace of the Soviets
Moscow, Amero - Soviet Union of the United Nations
October 22, 2552
The stampede of thundering soldiers hammered the stone stairways of the massive skyscraper, as the heavily armed commandos of the Red Army flanked the massive landing pad. Their matte black armour encased their bodies against the frigid weather of Moscow, the helmets kept them faceless only the red stars on their shoulders identified their unit. Throughout the organized chaos, two men calmly walked the same path, taking their time as they observed the sky for an approaching bird to drop from the heavens. Their massive black greatcoats fluttered in the cold breeze as their sheep skin papakha's supported the infamous gold sword superimposed on a shield, the inscriptions around the sword roughly translated to "The Sword and the Shield;" the mark of the KGB.
"They are late," one of the agents spoke to the other as he kept scanning the horizon, waiting for a speck to appear.
"It was on the Marshall's orders," the other replied as he scanned his data pad, in search for more information.
"We must proceed with undo haste when they do arrive; we do not have much time before the ONI move in on us."
"Indeed."
--
The shuttle entered the atmosphere, slicing through the layers of carbon, oxygen and nitrogen like a hot knife through butter. The hull glowed red hot as the density of the molecules started to increase, slowing the craft down to mere hypersonic speeds. With a jolt the occupants of the craft were thrown against their seats as the pilots engaged the retro-burners, trying to shave off more velocity as they approached their destination.
The foreign visitors gazed out of the windows, trying to catch a glimpse of where they were headed. After a couple of minutes a city grew out of the horizon with a winding river cutting right threw its center, splitting a massive colorful fortress and a part of the metropolis from the rest. A few blocks down from the fortress a giant skyscraper grew, ascending into the heavens, finally coming to an end at the tip of the finger from the colossal statue standing on the roof.
The shuttle spun 180 degrees within its radius and dropped towards the awaiting pad, its ventral thrusters hissing every so often trying to keep the ship level and dropping at a constant rate. With a 'clang' the landing legs hit the pad, and the door hissed open with a ramp simultaneously lowering to the ground. A young girl in her late teens exited first, her headtails slightly fluttering with the cold breeze while her body was shielded by her egg shell white armor encased with some luxurious furs. She was followed a tall, muscular black man who also wore the same type of armor, but his gaze itself could cause all hell to freeze over. Immediately afterwards the Marshall exited, his wolf skin greatcoat was shrouded with gold leafs defining his rank, along with a gold lanyard running down from his shoulder to his third button. He placed his silver papakha on his head, straightening it like it was second nature so that the emblem of the Red Star was centered with his nose and walked towards the two awaiting agents.
"Jeffers, Johnston! Quite a party you have waiting for me," he boomed as he grasped each the agent's hands. "Tell me we don't have any surprises, you know how much I dislike surprises."
"Well Sir, we do have a predicament," Johnston spoke as he glace over to Jeffers, motioning him to explain.
"Admiral Parangosky," Jeffers spoke with a bit of fear in his voice, which was unheard of coming from a KGB agent. "She is going to take you out sir."
"Apparently, you pissed her off by taking the Covenant scumbag for yourself sir," Johnston spoke as he started to walk towards the awaiting armoured vehicles; hinting everyone to do the same. "From what I hear, she was all ready to interrogate him, and probably make love to him too."
"Yeah, I hear she hasn't had a good fuck since she promoted Admiral what's his face." Jeffers chuckled. "She's 97 years old! Who in the right mind would want to do a woman with more wrinkles than a dried up prune?"
"Going back to topic," Zhukov interrupted. "What is she up to?"
"She wants to frame you for a coup attempt by instigating a coup herself, sir," Jeffers replied, his face suddenly morbid. "She has been vying vengeance ever since you prevented her from getting her fourth star back, and I think you nailed the coffin when you decided to have the KGB interrogate the Prophet."
"We are trying our outmost to make sure this doesn't go through sir, we even had the Kremlin guard replaced," Johnston explained has he opened the door to the armoured limo. "Jessica is also looping and tying up Section 3's black ops with some of her own tricks."
"Were does the loyalty of all the forces in Moscow lie with?" Zhukov asked as he stepped into the vehicle.
"With you of course Marshall," a hologram spoke as it flickered out of an imbedded emitter within the limo. "You definitely know the forces will always side with you, especially due to your exceptional leadership skills. However, the Kremlin guards are not regulars, but paramilitary."
"With whom did you replace them with, then?"
"The remnants of the Sikh Regiment and Sikh Light infantry Sir," Jessica said as her image flicked her blonde hair back. "Brigadier Sodhi is in command and he is eagerly awaiting you arrival."
"Raj is here! That is excellent news; this will most definitely go much smoother with his forces stationed here." The Marshall smiled as he nudged over to make room for his guests. "What is Parangosky fielding?"
"The Rangers of Section IV sir," Jeffers responded looking even grimmer. "They are the best soldiers the ONI can field after the Spartans."
"These Spetsnaz will be our guard, if need be the Sikhs will come assist and disarm the Rangers while Parangosky is arrested."
"We can also assist, can't we Master?" Ahsoka spoke, causing everyone to turn around and look at the two Jedi's.
"No, I cannot let you two be harmed by such an event," Zhukov spoke with his face in his hands, not expecting to deal with such bull shit with the fate of humanity on the brink of extinction. "I will deal with this myself, and then we can prepare for the real fight."
"Let's get moving then," Johnston recommended as he motioned the Jedi's into the limo. "We will follow, Sir," and he shut the door.
As the limo pulled away the agents got into their personal Warthog.
"I was wondering," Jeffers said as he strapped himself in behind the wheel. "That black guy, he kind of....."
"Looks like the guy from that film we watched," Jeffers finished him off.
"Yeah, the one with the snakes on a plane, I think."
They both looked at each other, and shook their heads.
"Nah."
--
The Kremlin
"Sergei Nikolaivich," a tall bearded man with an imposing turban boomed as the Marshall stepped out. "How good to see you my good friend, my god the battles have aged you well."
"The same can be said about yourself Raj; my deepest sympathies to your regiment my good friend." Zhukov responded as he embraced his protégé. "They fought and died well on Reach."
"We will have our vengeance in this life or the next," the brigadier responded. "My forces are ready for that ONI bitch to do her worst; her rangers cannot hold up against my Jawans," his fingers motioned the mass of bearded soldiers guarding the walls and patrolling the inner fortress. They all wore heavy armour but had turbans instead of helmets, making them look taller than they actually were and more furious.
"We will crush the traitors swiftly and with impunity," Sodhi roared. "They are within deaths embrace."
"Have your men ready for action, Parangosky's birds will be here within the hour," Zhukov grumbled as he walked towards the palace. "Do what the rangers say until I give you my signal, then you may unleash hell if you so decide."
"And what would be this signal?"
"Prudence's Fall"
--
The flight of Pelicans screamed through the city, zigzagging their way through the buildings and monuments. People on the streets looked on in disbelief to see aircraft flying so low which barely cleared the signs. Once the birds reached the Moskva, they changed course to follow the body of water, causing a massive wake to follow them and smash against the numerous bridges that crossed the river. As they reached their destination, the pelicans suddenly flung up and over the Kremlin walls and came to a hover above a wide boulevard.
The rangers of Section IV grappled out of their birds and onto the pavement below, creating a circular perimeter as the pelicans started to float around the Kremlin compound. An Albatross then landed in the middle of the newly created perimeter and an entire company of rangers marched out followed by what seemed to be a witchlike figure in a white naval officer's uniform. The amount of gold leafs she had on her tunic clearly signified that she held a flag rank.
"Major! What the hell are the Sikhs doing here?" Parangosky croaked as she walked briskly towards palace. "Have the rangers take control of the compound," then she spun around and looked the man directly in his eyes. Her cold hard stare froze time around him and the next words impaled him like a thousand spears. "Exterminate them if you have to but I want the compound under my control, understand?" "Yes Admiral!" "Good, have one of your men execute my orders, you will accompany me inside."
She watched has the major briefed his captain about her orders, and analyzed the grim face the company XO made, apparently he had feelings for fellow soldiers whom he never met and would never meet again.
The duo walked into the palace leaving the captain shouting his orders to his fellow comrades, who did not notice the massive brigadier walking towards him.
--
"Margaret, I do not see why you had to intrude this meeting? I would have arranged a meeting with you afterwards," the Marshall spoke with a very calm demeanor. "Unless you want to meet our new guests, but I thought you met some of them with Hood?"
"I did not come here about that Sergei," Parangosky whispered coldly. "But about your intrusion into ONI matters, and also about a personal note."
"Oh, and what would that be? Did I forget to reject your personal invitation to your bed?" A widening grin started to grow across the Marshalls face. "
SHUT UP YOU!"
"It's shut up, Marshall. Have you forgotten your manners and the fact that my coat has more gold? Maybe your eye sight has finally started to deceive you my dear woman; you should call it quits now, shouldn't you?"
"THAT'S IT!" Parangosky roared as she walked aggressively towards Zhukov. "I am relieving you of your post; you will be tried by the ONI for acts of treachery for personal gain and sabotage."
"That is treason in itself; I am the Marshall of all the UN forces, Chief of the Joint Chiefs! You really think the public or the armed forces will fall for that?"
"I will execute it like Beria and Stalin's purge back in the 20th century," she whispered. "You do not stand a chance against the ONI."
The Marshall just simply shook his head and stared at her.
"How will you make that happen? You are in the middle of Moscow with the entire Red Army plus the Armies of the UN loyal to me. Plus, how would you like it if I was to suddenly spill the beans on how much you embezzled from the war chest for your own needs, or how expensive and faulty all your projects are? Except of course for the Spartans, but I still think the public will be outraged over the deaths of countless children sent on missions deep in Covenant space?"
"You wouldn't dare but if you want to play it that way, what would the public think of the good Marshall creating the KGB or the fact that you have number of underground projects, lets name a few shall we:" Parangosky spoke as the started to motion her fingers. "There is the Strategic Rocket Forces; the UNSC would love this one, the Space Forces, the Spetsnaz GRU and what's with this 89th air wing?"
"All I can say to you Margaret is that I can spill the information but you can't," Zhukov happily informed.
"Oh and how do you say that, I control the ONI and you know Section II controls the media, that makes me the most powerful figure. How can you beat me when I control the propaganda?"
"Because I fried all your servers," Jessica spoke as her hologram suddenly flickered on. She stared at the admiral with her hands crossed behind, her gleaming eyes and the gold lighting around gave her an image of an angel.
"You! But how did you get past..." Margaret stuttered.
"Upgrades!" Jessica smiled. "Your firewalls did not stand a chance against my offensive attack barriers, plus your AI's got a taste of being ripped into pieces, plus the KGB techs were kind enough to point out the critical saturation points at your bunker in Sydney."
Everyone looked at her with confusion.
"To put it simply, I shoved whatever transistor the ONI still used into critical overload and they just fried themselves. The AI's however were a different story, I had to team up with Cortana to take them all out." Jessica shrugged her shoulders as she continued on. "Hurts to know that one of your own creations has worked against you."
Suddenly Zhukov stood up and gracefully walked towards the admiral. "I think it is time to call it quits Margaret, I will give you a fair trial plus I will pardon you from the death sentence."
"I don't think so Sergei, not know, I will have my vengeance!" She hissed. "Major! take him out."
"Jessica, the signal!" The Marshall spoke as he watched Parangosky's crony reach for his holster.
--
"I am very saddened by the events your forces had to go through, sir," the captain said. "I do not how you remain so strong after watching so many of your brother's die."
"Sometimes you just need a strong will, and that in itself will guide you through the most turbulent storms," the Brigadier spoke as he eyed his soldiers forming up.
"Why didn't you resist my orders sir?"
"Because I am not stupid Captain, I know you serve Parangosky and I do not feel like crossing her, besides I rather lead my men against the Covenant."
Suddenly the speakers started blaring, rough sound echoed through within the walls of the fortress.
"However, in times of need you make exception to even your own personal ideal," Sodhi whispered as he cupped his hand over the captains mouth while yanking the young mans head violently towards its side.
He dropped the corpse and with a nod of his head his forces started to run towards the rangers. He breathed in the cold air, his ears tuning to the words from the signal.
"A flow of orgasmic fire, swept through the cosmic night,
I enthroned darkness triumphant, with the searing trident of the Inferno"
-------------------------------------------------------------
Trivia
1) The quote in the end was from a Dimmu Borgir song called Prudence's Fall.
2) Jawan directly translates to "young man" or "soldier" in Punjabi.
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