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The Flood Onslaught (revision)
Posted By: The Grenadier<smaytothej044@yahoo.com>
Date: 11 June 2005, 6:17 PM
Read/Post Comments
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First off, before I get to the story, some of you may remember me posting this before, and well... it wasn't that good. But now I've written some more chapters and 'revised' the old ones as best I could. So I'll post the story from the begining up to what I've written now. Comments are appreciated!
***
The year is 2674.
In 2567, the Humans, along with the help of the Elites, Hunters, and Grunts, all who joined the them when the Covenant Civil War started, defeated Truth and the rest of the remaining Covenant. The "Great Journey" was prevented several times over with the help of 117 and the Arbiter, but at the cost of many lives.
After defeating the Covenant, the rest of the "Halo" Installations were located, the Indexes found and destroyed after realizing what a serious threat they were to all life if somehow they were reunited with their control centers. But the Installations were still left intact, for the Forerunner technology could leapfrog human, and even the Elite's advanced technology hundreds of years - but it was soon learned that those actions were a big mistake.
The Indexes were destroyed, the Human-Covenant war was over, and the Flood had not been seen since High Charity. Everyone thought they were safe from another threat.
They were terribly mistaken.
For several years, peace and prosperity flourished as the all of the races struggled to rebuild the mess that the Covenant left over. Grunts found their Methane rich paridise planet. Hunters went back to their normal way of life before being forced into joining the Covenant. And together, the Humans and the Elites founded colonies on new planets, the first of which named Reach II, in honor of all of the lives lost in the invasion of the original Reach.
That peace was short lived, however.
On the call of some sort of "Queen", the Flood regrouped to one spot on each of the rings. Then, from broken Sentinal parts and leftover Forerunner technology, they constructed hundreds of ships to go to the darkest corners of the galaxy - to their homeworld. There they prepared a titanic fleet to reach their one true goal - absorpsion of all sentient life. Soon after, they attacked.
For over one hundred years the war against the Flood raged on. But, John and the Arbiter soon became too old to fight and passed away.
The Flood continues to fight on. Their endless reproduction cycle and brutal guerilla warfare tactics makes them an almost invincible enemy. But there is still a glinter of hope. There is John's grandson. No one thought it possible, a another generation of Spartan - for an unfortunate side effect of the original augmentation was a supressed sexual drive. Yet, defying all odds, it happened.
With each generation of a Spartan, the original augmented traits double. That, along with the MJOLNIR Mark VII armor, makes Andrew - Spartan 151, possibly the only hope against the Flood.
***
Andrew removed his helmet and sighed.
He and his squad of SpecOp Elites - or Sangheili, as they prefered to be called - had been fighting for eight days straight against the vicious Flood. His squad had used every ounce of strength they had in them and fought with great courage - yet, it was still a minor victory compared to the heavy losses there had been in the last century. He remembered the stories his grandfather had told him - back in peaceful times, during his training on Reach.
He took his mind off the past and focused his attention on his injuries. Those Flood sure could inflict a mean wound - they did anything to try and cause harm. Whether it be using a weapon, assaulting you with their whip like tentacles on their arms, or even biting, one thing was for sure - they were determined to absorb or kill everything in their path.
This was actually the first time in days he could just sit down and think. Another war... they couldn't handle this. Even with the added help of the Elites, Hunters, and Grunts, the situation was going from bad to worse. His grandfather, 117, had told him of the first big war humanity had been in, back when the Covenant existed. Humans had almost been wiped out entirely. But, thanks to the Covenant Civil War, that had changed very quickly and they were able to overpower them in a matter of years.
But, of course, when they finally found peace, another war erupted. One with a bigger, meaner, stronger enemy. Again they were whittled down to a few hundred planets and strongholds. Andrew wasn't sure they could win this one, but one thing was certain - he would do all in his power to prevent humanity and her allies from falling.
The door opened.
In stepped a marine - one that seemed like he was about ready to fall apart, in fact. Andrew wasn't suprised. The Flood could make even the toughest of soldiers beg for mercy. But, the soldier pushed his fear aside and saluted. "Sir, the Office of Naval Intelligence requests your presense at 0850 hours."
Andrew returned the salute and said, "At ease private. Tell them I'll be there." The soldier walked briskly out of the room. That was in exactly 10 minutes. He would never make it on time at this rate. It didn't matter, though. These days ONI was up to it's ears in everything - damage reports, funding, etc... Even after the war ended, if they survived, it would take years to sort out this cluttered mess.
He picked up his helmet and it snapped on with a satisfying click. He carefully replaced his damaged armor components and made sure his shield generators were working properly. You could never be too careful with the Flood - they could be lurking anywhere these days and take you by suprise. That was a mistake too many people made, and that was part of the reason they were losing this war - just plain stupidity. He sighed again and walked out the door to his debriefing.
***
Andrew stepped into the debriefing room.
The titanic Hunter guards stepped aside and let him through. The room was about twenty meters in diameter and had an elevated desk in the shape of a half circle in the center. This is where the members of the ONI-Council sat. Although the room was dark, he could just see the outlines of the Elites and Humans who conversed there. He saluted.
"Reporting as ordered, sirs!"
"As you were." A deep voice of an Elite said.
"We would like to salute you and your team for your sucessful mission. 3 KIA's, 8 Wounded, and the rest of your 25 Elite squad unharmed or with lesser injuries." A man said, but then sighed. "Despite the win, we didn't do so well overall."
"As you recall," another Elite said, "The Parasite finally pulled out. Unfortunatly, they decided to make a jump inside the planet's atmosphere, which resulted in...." A holotank sprang to life and showed a recording of the jump from space. A whitish blob of energy appeared on the planet's surface and expanded until it left a crater that took up a quarter of the entire planet. It then, from the sudden loss of mass, started to spin out of control wildly. The unfortunate people still trapped on the surface would either go too far from their sun and freeze, or get too close to the sun and burn. Andrew shook his head. So many wasted lives. "Luckily, we were able to pull you and your squad out just before they jumped. And, they have not found Earth yet - you may be unaware that we now train our soldiers to resist the Flood's ability to 'see' into the minds of others and gain the knowledge that particular person had." Andrew nodded in agreement.
"The Covenant, before their civil war started, would have nothing to do with our vehicles, weapons, or technology." The first man said. "We do not have that advantage over the Flood, however. They will use anything they can get their hands on - and sometimes combine them to create deadly hybrids. Do you have anything to comment on this, Spartan 151?"
"Sir, the Flood gained this ability when they started to take over some of the Engineers. With genetically enhanced Flood DNA, they learn even faster than they did before. This gives them an even bigger advantage over us." Andrew commented.
"151, how is this possible?" An Elite asked. "The Parasite needs a host with a spine. The Engineers are invertebrates. It seems unlikely."
"Unknown. It is rumored that the Infection Forms have somehow been genetically altered. There may be a higher intelligence at work here."
"That is all we need to know. You are dismissed, 151." another man said. "All information you have heard or seen here is classified."
"Yes sirs!" Andrew saluted and walked out of the room. After getting out, he exhaled deeply and started the long walk back to his quarters. The Flood.... it gave him shivers just to think about them. They could now improvise two different technologies, something they could never do in the past - which raised a new question. How? He had a strange feeling they were about to find out soon.
Morale was less than rock bottom now. Some people just gave up, and actually let themselves be infected. They knew the war couldn't be won. But, some people fought on, although the odds were against them. They needed those kind of people. His mind flashed back again to another tale his grandfather had told him. Back when there were other Spartans, just like him. They never gave up, they never lost. But now, a hundred years later, there were no other Spartans in existence except for himself. They all had passed away. This is the kind of time Andrew wished there were other Spartans left - he could use the help. He stepped into his room.
The hologram of Deja popped up on a holo-panel near the door. Deja was the original teacher for the Spartans. As the years went by, she worked in Dr. Catherine Halsey's office and then for other Section 3 projects. "Dumb" AIs, like her, were actually extremely brilliant - just limited to their fields of expertise. Deja was shifted from project to project, and now finally to being Andrew's personal AI. Had she been a "Smart" AI, she would have expired long ago, literally "thinking" herself to death. But fortunately, she wasn't - she had become extremely proficient at Flood intel. That's why ONI kept her around.
She spoke up. "Hello, Andrew. I trust the debriefing went well?"
"Yes, Deja. Just the typical -" He was abruptly cut short as the entire complex shook violently.
"Scanning... I'm detecting multiple Flood boarding parties." She said. "I can't tell with the short range detection gear what exactly are in those pods, but it can't be good."
Andrew put his hand near the holo-panel and Deja was transported from the system to inside his armor. He grabbed his Shotgun.
Time to get to work.
***
Andrew bolted out the door and around a corner. "I'm sending a Nav Point to your HUD. It will point you towards the direction of the nearest boarding parties. I'll continue to monitor activity." Deja said.
The entire complex he was in was actually deep in a cavern under water. Back when the war started, this was thought to be one of the best places to hide from the Flood. Technically, it was extremely safe. Safer than most land bases, anyways. But the Flood knew we couldn't hide forever. They started searching every square inch of human territory, leaving no rock unturned. Well, Andrew thought, they've found us here now, too. He guessed they had made modifications to the boarding craft normally used in space, but changed to propel itself through water. He rounded another corner and ran headlong into Flood.
He tossed a grenade into the midst of them and fired a couple of rounds from his Shotgun, effectively killing them. He took an SMG from one of the Combat Forms, just in case he needed another weapon to fall back on. Ah, he thought, a hybrid. The SMG had two barrels. That meant it had the power of two SMGs, but in one gun. This bullet hose would rip through them like tissue.
Looks like he would be able to use it sooner than he planned. Out of the boarding craft came hundreds of fleshy blobs, the Infection forms. He quickly fired the SMG left and right, so they didn't surround and overwhelm him. A grenade finished the rest of them.
"Good." Deja said. "That's all of them in that boarding craft. I'm detecting a big one heading for.... Oh, no."
"What?" 151 replied. "What's the problem?"
"They're heading for the bridge. If they take over, they'll be able to create a Brain form, hack into the system, and initiate a lock down of the entire station. No way out. We would all be infected."
He couldn't let that happen.
"I'm uploading another Nav Point. You're close - it's only a few hundred meters away. But hurry, we don't have much time." Deja finished.
The Nav Point as well as an overhead map in the upper right hand corner appeared on his heads up display. He had never been inside the bridge, actually - it was authorized personnel only. It looked like he was about to get his first look, though.
He shot down two unexpecting Flood Elites as he flew down the hallway and they blew apart like confetti. He continued, reloading his Shotgun as he went. Turning another corner, he saw something he had never seen before - a Grunt Combat form. It stood about a half meter taller than a normal Grunt, and looked a lot stronger too. It had no breathing aparatus either - Flood didn't need to breathe. They could loose entire heads and still be walking around. It gave a start - it's voice was a weird mix of a high pitched bark and the normal gurgling sounds Flood make.
The Flood Grunt fired it's Fuel Rod Gun. Andrew dove to the side and the blast hit the wall.- that would have killed him had he stood in the way. Good, he thought, one of the older models. It would have to be recharged, which gave him just the opportunity he needed. He jumped to his feet and hit the gun aside - the fail safe destroyed the weapon - and he stuck a grenade on his foe, and ran back so he would not be caught in the explosion. Three seconds and a dead Flood later, he continued his journey to the bridge.
"Odd," Deja said, "I thought the Flood only used Grunts for Carrier forms or other menial tasks. Apparently, the Infection form had other ideas." She paused, then added, "Good, we're almost there." His HUD read 10 meters to go. "I'll disable the security locks for the bridge - expect alot of Flood boarding parties. This is their top priority. If they suceed, we won't be able to get out, nor will reinforcements be able to get in."
"I understand." Andrew said. He entered the room.
ODSTs and Honor Guards were fighting back to back, defending themselves against the boarding parties. He heard a human scream - someone had been infected. Unfortunatly, the UNSC had never gotten around to giving normal Marines energy shielding. Though highly capable on their own, they could still be taken over easily - the Infection forms had razor sharp penetrators that could even pierce thick armor, given the chance - but with the energy shielding, they just popped on contact. There was a momentary cease in the waves of boarding parties, and he jogged up to one of the Elite Guards.
"Where is the Commander?" Andrew asked.
"We have been fighting the Parasite for ten full units - this has been the only cease in the fighting we've had so far." The Elite sighed deeply. "But the Commander was overtaken about half way through - we saved his body, but we can't find the Infection form in him." He jerked his head in the direction of one of the main control panels. "That is where he lies."
"Thanks." he said curtly. Atleast the body was safe. That would prevent atleast one diaster from happening - he was content with the current ones. A thin smile touched his lips.
"Sir, additional boarders!" one ODST said, looking up from one of the computers.
A Zealot ran up to him. "You may need this." He pulled out a small device, and activated it. An Energy Sword flashed to life. He offered one of them up, and Andrew accepted it.
"Behind you!" 151 screamed, but it was too late. A Carrier form had waddled out and exploded behind him. The force sent both of them flying, but the Elite took the mortal blow. He was dead. Just then, from the boarding parties came dozens of Comat forms - that might have been a little more than they bargained for. The Flood charged, but not before they heard a clunking noise coming from the ceiling. They all looked up, and then a pair of Hunters fell through to their level, crushing several Flood beneath their boots. Their Fuel Rod Cannons charged and then sent a white hot stream of particles through the parties, cutting them in half. No survivors surfaced. He gave his silent thanks to them.
"All boarding parties neutralized." an Elite said. "Well done."
Andrew walked up to the central platform to get a quick count of the total losses, when all of a sudden, he noticed something on the Commander's body. A slimy tentacle reached up towards the main control panel.The Infection Form! He dove toward the body, Sword in hand, and cut it in half. The body started to writhe, but within seconds stopped moving completely.
"That was a close one." Deja commented. "Too close." She sighed, but then continued. "I'm detecting one last boarding party in the launch bay. You'd better get moving before they spread through the whole ship. There's an elevator that will take you straight to it - proceed 5 meters to your left." He found it and entered. Deja took control and sent it to their destination. It descended rapidly. "Expect almost the same treatment you got in the bridge." she said. "We've got them pretty pissed now."
The elevator came to a halt and opened. He was greeted by several Combat and Infection forms, all of whom he put down quickly with a few grenades and a couple of rounds from his SMG. He causiously approached the center of the room, which was empty except for a single Longsword, capable of traveling through water. But before he could get there, even more Flood came out from the boarding craft. They kept forcing him into a tighter and tighter corner. Their numbers seemed to be endless.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, he killed the last of them. He walked towards the Longsword again. "All boarding parties neutralized. Well done." She added, "That Longsword is our ticket out of here. Let's get in." Andrew intended to do just that, but he saw a blur of motion behind him. He turned around, but could see nothing. He made toward the Longsword again, but saw the same blur speed towards him and knock him to the ground. He tasted blood in his mouth. Juggernauts.
The three Juggernauts stopped near him. These rarely seen form of Flood were incredibly deadly - they stood twice as tall as a normal human, looked like an over inflated Carrier form, and fought like Hunters. He jumped to his feet and stuck a grenade on one of them. It exploded, but it didn't take the other two with it. He frowned and drew his Shotgun.
He fired a few times at them, but it was no use - they could dodge the shells easily. Instead, he took out his Sword. He lunged towards one of them and scored a direct hit. Two down, one to go. Now, he thought, where could it - His thoughts were interrupted as the last Juggernaut hit him from behind. He dropped the Sword, and the fail safe destroyed it. He tried to move his left arm, but couldn't. Blood and hydrostatic gel bubbled from the new cracks in his armor.
I've got to move, Andrew thought. He ignored the pain and drew his Combat Knife with his right hand.The Juggernaut stopped again in front of him. Perfect.
He lunged with all the strength he had left at it's center of mass. He heard a screech and the Juggernaut fell to the ground, now utterly useless. He had destroyed the Infection form burried deep within it's chest. Without it, the body could no longer fight. A sigh of relief was exhaled as he walked into the Longsword. Deja entered the launch codes.
It was time to take the fight to the surface.
***
Septemper 22, 2552 - Aboard Covenant
Vessel Truth and Reconciliation
122 Years Earlier.
Mckay pulled out a grenade. She knew it was the right thing to do - she knew it was her duty to the bilions of people on Earth not to let the Flood Infection spread. She pulled the pin and tossed it under the Fiber Optic Cable. As a result, the Truth and Reconciliation's controls went beserk, and the ship began fall rapidly to the ground.
Several decks above in the Control Center, Wellsley said one last thing to say to Major Silva. "You taught her well, Major. Of that you can be proud." The ship did a nose dive into the ground, and explosions rippled through the ship like wild fire. Everything on the ship was utterly destroyed.
Except for one thing, a certain Flood called Jenkins.
As the ship exploded, Jenkins saw brilliant gold light flash all around him and heard a low, monotonous voice say, "This is not your grave...." as he left the Truth and Reconciliation and was transported to an unknown place.
* * *
Jenkins woke up.
His vision was blurry. Was he dead? Was this all just a dream? As his sight recovered, he could make out more and more of the room he was in. It was dark, dank, and had.... thousands of Flood! Jenkins struggled as much as he could, but to no avail. The giant tentacle restraining him just became tighter. Why? he screamed out in his mind. Why can't I just die and be rid of this horrible monster, this Flood?!
"You have a greater purpose than that." the same monotonous voice said.
Who... or what is this thing? he thought.
"I am a Gravemind." the creature said. As Jenkins' vision started to get better, this 'Gravemind' came into view. It was massive. Hundreds, maybe even thousands of tentacles had other Combat forms in their grip, while Carrier forms and Infection forms littered the ground below them. The room they were in was atleast 1000 meters wide.
No! Jenkins thought. I have to try to kill some of these so the Infection doesn't spread!
"Do not try and hide your thoughts." Gravemind said.
Okay then. Where are we?
"We are in a chamber, imprisoned deep below the surface of this ring." Gravemind explained. "But not for long." All of a sudden, Jenkins' sight got darker and darker, until he could see nothing. Then, a new image flickered into his mind. The Pillar of Autumn!
***
Who... or what is this thing? he thought.
"I am a Gravemind." the creature said. As Jenkins' vision started to get better, this 'Gravemind' came into view. It was massive. Hundreds, maybe even thousands of tentacles had other Combat forms in their grip, while Carrier forms and Infection forms littered the ground below them. The room they were in was atleast 1000 meters wide.
No! Jenkins thought. I have to try to kill some of these so the Infection doesn't spread!
"Do not try and hide your thoughts." Gravemind said.
Okay then. Where are we?
"We are in a chamber, imprisoned deep below the surface of this ring." Gravemind explained. "But not for long." All of a sudden, Jenkins' sight got darker and darker, until he could see nothing. Then, a new image flickered into his mind. The Pillar of Autumn!
Explosions ripped through the aged ship. Jenkins felt a shudder through the walls in the chamber. He could then see the ring slowly tear itself apart. Jenkins felt a surge of joy. Yes! I'd rather die than be infected by this monster! And it looks like I'm about to get my wish...
The Gravemind seemed to read his thoughts once again, and responded, "This is not the end. Watch." Jenkins then saw several images of Halo flicker through his mind all at once - the explosion from the Pillar of Autumn, the breaking of the ring into several large pieces, and it slowly tearing itself apart.
Jenkins somehow sensed that they were on a part of Halo that wasn't caught in the destruction of the ring. No... he thought with grief. I.. I can't believe it. We survived...
"Yes." Gravemind said. "We have."
But... Jenkins started to say, How did we survive? How did you know to teleport all of the Flood to a safe place right before the explosion?
"All Flood are one. I can sense your thoughts, your feelings, even your darkest secrets." Gravemind said. "There is no hiding."
Ha! Jenkins thought with bliss. You think we can actually get off? We're trapped here now. Nowhere to go. No one to infect.
"That is where you are wrong." Gravemind said. "We can get off this accursed ring. We will build ships, and regroup to our homeworld."
What?! There are more Graveminds? And more Halos?
"There are seven Graveminds." Gravemind responded. "One of us for each ring."
No!
"Yes. And now, you will be transformed. Transformed into a creature with incredible power. A creature who is feared even by those who accompany it. A creature only known as... a Juggernaut." Jenkins' vision started to get blurry again and he felt himself joined with other Flood to form this creature Gravemind spoke of. But even as his consciousness slipped away, he vowed to not let himself be taken over completely by the other presence inside of him. He would help humanity with this threat to his dying breath. Even if it took 100 years.
* * *
-122 years later-
Andrew woke abruptly. His neural implants said he had been asleep for about three and a half hours. Although he could still sleep longer, he decided against it, and sat up in his bulky MJOLNIR armor. It was required that all UNSC personel wear their full body armor, even when sleeping to prevent infection. He sighed and walked over to Deja's holo-panel.
"Have there been any alerts, Deja?"
"Not so far, but - " she paused briefly and said, "I've detected Flood just entering the city. You know what to do."
Ah, how he did indeed.
Deja transported into his suit, he grabbed his weapons, and dashed out of the building. He turned a corner and crushed a few Infection forms beneath his boots. As he reached the end of the alley, a Juggernaut stepped in his way, blocking his exit.
Under normal circumstances, this wouldn't be a problem, since Juggernauts were only dangerous in groups of two or more, because they could quickly surround and overwhelm you. But as he approached it, he got a reading from... the Flood's neural lace. It had been a human at one time. That wasn't what was odd about it, though. This particular human had been, or should have been dead, because he had been on the first Halo when it exploded over one hundred years ago. Andrew had seen his name when he looked at the original crew for the Pillar of Autumn. This Flood was.... Private Jenkins.
***
Whoa! That was long. Sorry about that - I just wanted to get caught up with the other sites I'm posting this on. Anywho, while I continue writing the next chapter, your comments would be appreciated. Thanks!
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