Post by Squal on Feb 25, 2009 14:08:35 GMT -5
This is a story I have been writing for deviantART for some time now and I decided to bring it to Tayius for all to see. This is the link to my Deviant page: teh-stormz.deviantart.com/
So enjoy my Halo-based story of 367: fFight to Home and please take note that I only have half of Chapter 4 done.
UNSC BANDWITH
OPEN CHANNEL
This is SPARTAN-367 broadcasting on an open channel. I am currently on a Halo construct with the A.I. Aphrodite. We crash landed here on a cruiser that was taken down by Covenant forces about a week ago and are held up on a island were we wet up auto-turrets to fight off the ground and air troops.
We’ve managed to secure some UNSC property and supplies to last us about six months, but we need extraction ASAP. Aphrodite can not calculate our chances of survival as of this time... and God knows when the Covenant will unleash the Flood.
This is SPARTAN-367 with “smart” A.I. Aphrodite. If anyone is out there, please, help us. We don’t know how much time we have left.
1928 hours / October 22nd, 2552 / Military Calendar
Location: Unknown System, Halo Construct
Troy listened to the looping message five more times and sighed. It had been a year since he broadcasted that transmission, nothing. No one came. His Mark VI MJOLNR helmet polarized as he looked into the setting sun from the Warthog, how he dreaded the Halo he and Aphrodite were stuck on. They had managed to avoid the Covenant and to secure more supplies for another year, but they still were on the look out for the Flood, the parasitic life form that only had one mission: destroy all life.
He looked back to the base he managed to find on this small island. Nothing too special other than the fact he made some modifications himself. It looked like a two story high hockey puck against the changing sky. On top, Turrets with motion trackers with a range of up to 1500 meters loaded with armor piercing rounds, and some turrets, anti-tank and air missiles. On the top, the com tower he set up to send out the signal. The interior he completely changed: Furniture made form vehicle seats; some table made out of scrap metal; and salvaged computers from the UNSC cruiser they crashed in the Horizon.
“We should get back to the base…” Aphrodite said in his helmet. He inhaled and sighed. He hated this Halo. He would do anything to get back to Earth. He put the Warthog in gear and turned it around to the base.
Chapter 1
1736 hours / October 22nd, 2552
Location Unknown – Halo Construct
Tory parked the Warthog next to the Scorpion tank in what he assumed to be a garage at the time he found the base. He hopped out then walked over to the heavy multi-lock door to close it so that nothing could get in the base form that entrance. He viewed the control panel and hit the button in the top right corner. Loud revving of engines sounded in response as the heavy steel door slowly closed. Equally heavy bars clanged across the surface to brace and lock the door so that if anything wanted to break it down they’d have one hell of a hard time doing so. As the heavy door closed, the sunset reflected off of his steel-gray colored Mark VI MJOLNR armor. The same he had when he was on the Horizon, the same he had been making modifications to over the past year.
Troy then went to what he called the “lobby” of the base. It was like a control room mixed with a living room and a small kitchen. It contained furniture he made out of salvaged seats for Pelican drop ships, a large screen form the crash site of the Horizon that was connected to satellite transmission and a computer, and A.I. port needed to keep Aphrodite running, a small kitchen made from things he found on the cruiser, and a table made from scrap metal.
He ejected Aphrodite from his suites A.I. slot. She was a card with a greenish disc in the center glowing brightly. He inserted her into the A.I. port which was modified to be able to project Aphrodite any where in the base. A hologram of a woman in her twenties with long flowing brunet hair, hazel eyes wearing just enough clothing to cover the more personal areas of the female anatomy. This made Troy wonder why an A.I. would choose that kind of form. “Well you certainly had a time with the new suspension on the ‘Hog.” She said crossing her arms.
Troy nodded taking off his helmet. Aphrodite put a holographic hand on his check “You should get out of that armor. You’re not going to be working on anything tonight except catching up on some much needed rest.” She sounded like a mother, which was ironic because she was made only three years ago. “Alright.” Troy said, his voice a little raspy from all the hills he jumped in the Warthog today. He went to a door on the other side of the slightly spaced room, it automatically opened revealing a small room with a reinforced rack with clothing hung on hangers on the bottom bar, a wall that was replaced with a conveyer to make a armory filled with weapons latched to it so they wouldn’t fall, a locked and blinded window, a cot, ammunition crates near the armory, and a personal computer.
He started to take off the half-ton armor off piece by piece setting each on the reinforced rack. He then put on some jeans, a black shirt, and some civilian shoes with the name brand “Vans”. He looked wear he set his helmet on the rack and saw next to it a pair of old school “dog tags”. He remembered the day he found them when he was a kid going through SPARTAN training. He had them laser printed to have his name and SPARTAN number on them. He grabbed them and put them on; the small metal beads were chilled on his warm skin.
He re-entered the “lobby” and went to a closet in the small kitchen. The door opened to revile cooled racks filled with ration packets, bottles of water and mess-kits. He grabbed a packet of freeze-dried ice cream and some water. It had been a while since he last ate so he wanted something to reward himself for another week of survival. He sat at the scrap metal table as Aphrodite appeared across form him. “I took the liberty of running our standard lock down.” She informed him. The standard lock down meant that she locked all entrances to the building along with blinding, reinforcing, heavy bolting and blinding all the windows.
She also monitored the turrets on top of the building. To save the element surprise, she made sure they were on minimum radar distance to fire upon anything that moves, has a heat signature, and didn’t look like part of the landscape. Troy smiled “Well at least if we are attacked, we will know who it is by the sound of the knock.” He opened his packet of ice cream and bit into the bar colored chocolate brown. The slight chalky taste was sweet on his taste buds. He drank some water with the piece of freeze dried ice cream still in his mouth. The cold water mixed with the already present taste filled his tongue with even more enjoyment.
“Time?” he asked the A.I. as he gobbled down the snack. “Checking…” Aphrodite replied “2038 hours. You’re turning in early?” she asked. Troy nodded. He tossed his trash in a makeshift waste basket next to the table and went to his room. “Open all channels and monitor for any signals, notify me if anything happens.” He said to Aphrodite who in turn nodded in response and disappeared. Troy entered his room and took of the shirt he was wearing. He flopped on the cot and closed his eyes, he wanted to have a good eight hours of sleep tonight.
2317 hours / October 22nd 2552
Aboard Colonial Transport Cruiser (CTC) ship Dawn Voyage
“GET US OUT OF THEIR RANGE NOW!” yelled Captain Gordon. His ship was under attack by Covenant forces. From what the NAV Officer could tell, they had two destroyers and one frigate on their tail. “Sir! We have to drop out of Slipspace now!” said the NAV Officer. “Damn it!” the last thing Gordon wanted to do was drop out of Slipspace in an unknown area “Drop us out!” he finally said after hesitating. The hull of the ship shook as a plasma blast violently hit the side of the ship.
The view screens showed stars as they dropped out of Slipspace. All was quiet on the bridge as the entire crew stared in awe at the sight before them. A purple gas giant stood there in the empty space, but it wasn’t the planet that caught their attention. It was what was orbiting it. A ring, with what looked like land on it. The captain had heard about these rings before; the UNSC and the Covenant called them “Halo”. Being a retired UNSC captain himself the captain knew of what was on Halo, but he had no choice, he had to land on it. “Prepare to land on the ring, give me ful-” a crash of plasma hit their rear engines. The ship was falling and fast.
“DAMIT! GET ME ON SHIP COM! READY THE LIFE BOATS!!” he ordered. “SHIP COM opened, sir!” yelled the communications officer. “Attention Dawn Voyage passengers.” The captain announced “As you may know, we are under attack by the Covenant. Life pods have been readied and the crew and I urge you to get on one and land on the ring.” Static followed on the COM as the Covenant jammed all their communications. The Captain knew no one was getting on that Halo alive.
Everyone was rushing into a life pod trampling over one another as people trampled over one another to get onto the unknown ring. Chaos wreaked across the entire ship as humans scrambled aboard small cramped life pods. Numerous thuds shook the ship as Covenant drop ships detached life pods and took their place. Air hatches were blown open to reveal Covenant troops. Grunts, Jackals and Elites poured forth and opened fire upon the human civilians with their plasma weapons.
Bloody cries rang through the halls of the ship followed by pools of the crimson blood of the innocent. Small resistance of the men aboard the ship battled the invaders as their families got aboard the life pods and jettisoned in to space, but to no anvil. All the life pods either crashed into enemy drop ships or were gunned down by Covenant fighters. Surviving life pods, victims to the last blow, viewed the explosion of the engines of the Dawn Voyage. Bright orange mixed with red created a painting of destruction on the black background of space.
The Dawn Voyage started to fall. The explosion of her engines sent her hurling into the atmosphere of the Halo along with a single surviving life pod. The two vessels entered the atmosphere only to start to flame up. Their paths split; the Voyager angled into a large continent, while the life pod raced towards a small island. Both were followed closely by the Covenant. Flames brightened up the night sky of the Halo, turning it into a bright orange while blinding the surface to the stars.
Aboard the life pod, a message rang on the radio: This is SPARTAN-367 broadcasting on an open channel. I am currently on a Halo construct with the A.I. Aphrodite. We crash landed here on a cruiser that was taken down by Covenant forces about a week ago and are held up on a island were we set up auto-turrets to fight off the ground and air troops.
We’ve managed to secure some UNSC property and supplies to last us about six months, but we need extraction ASAP. Aphrodite cannot calculate our chances of survival as of this time... and God knows when the Covenant will unleash the Flood.
This is SPARTAN-367 with “smart” A.I. Aphrodite. If anyone is out there, please, help us. We don’t know how much time we have left.
Chapter 2
0015 hours / October 23rd 2552 / Military Calendar
Location Unknown – Halo Construct
“Troy…. TROY!!!” Aphrodite yelled into Troys ear who woke with a start,. “What?!?” he yelled back. Aphrodite turned on the speakers to play a message: “Mayday! Mayday! This is colonial transport cruiser Dawn Voyage. We’ve been attacked by Covenant forces and are going down fast! We are about to crash on a ring of som-” Troy’s eyes widened “When was this transmission sent?” he asked. Aphrodite crossed her arms “Five minutes ago.” Her head snapped up “Proximity warning: Covenant and Non-Covenant ships in bound!” Troy got out of the cot and immediately striped his jeans off to put on his Mark VI MJOLNR armor.
“Are the Covenant following them?” Troy asked as he snapped on his armors leggings. “Affirmative.” Aphrodite answered. Troy put on his torso and arm armor then grabbed his helmet and put it on.. He went to his armory and grabbed an assault rifle, pistol, a handful of grenades and enough ammo to last him a good fight. This was now a rescue mission. A loud crash rang from outside the base. Troy stormed out of his room and sprinted to the A.I. terminal. “You’re taking me with you?” Aphrodite inquired. Troy gave his response by yanking her A.I. chip out of the terminal and shoving it into his helmets A.I. port “I’ll need all the help I can get.” He said coldly.
He sprinted down to the garage and opened the heavy metal door with his rifle pointed at the slowly appearing gap, ready to fire at any Covenant troops on sight. He backed up to the Warthog and jumped in the driver’s seat. “Target for rescue is a five minute drive south of our position.” Aphrodite informed Troy. “Did you leave the turrets online?” he asked as he revved the engine. “Yes, I programmed their computers to fir on only Covenant-looking troops and ships.” Aphrodite replied as troy hit the gas hard. The Warthog sprang to life as the light recon vehicle jetted out of the garage.
Angela’s head rang loudly as if someone took a large bell and rung it as loud as they could next to her ear. Her vision started to focus better after the crash landing of her life pod. Where was she? She asked herself. All she could remember was her parents getting separated from her, shouts and screams of the people around her… and the monsters. The infamous Covenant she heard about on the ship of refugees. She looked around the inside of the pod, no one but her was in it. She sat up on the ground she had laid on for what seemed like hours.
Rustling came from outside the pods door as the figure of a bird-like alien steped to it banging harshly on the window. A Kig-Yar, or what her father said the UNSC marines called them “Jackels”. Its beaded eyes were focused on her with murderous intent. She couldn’t see its arms, but it was reaching for something. She backed away behind a chair to escape its sight. Her memories of everything that she had been told about the Covenant and its quest to kill all humans. She let out a cry of fear when she heard bones snaping.
She looked to the window and saw the Jackels face expressionless and limp. Then something picked it up and threw it off the door. There was a pause. Gunfire rang out as Angela listened to the blood-cries and death rattles of the covenant troops from the dropship that followed her life pod. She saw the shadow of what her brother told her was Elite firing a plasma rifle. Something stabbed it in the throat with a knife; a steel-gray gauntleted hand. Did the UNSC have a presence here? That would contribute to one possibility why the captain ordered everyone to land on this… ring-world. The elite fell and all was silent.
She decided it was safe to move toward the door. She hit the button on the side to open it. The doors moters were damaged in the crash so they opened slower that the fast rate they should have. The sun light blinded her as she stumbled out as she felt the ground below her. A filtered voice spoke to her “Are you alright?” it sounded battle hardened, yet somehow still youthful. She looked up to see who was speaking. She might have been dreaming, but standing before her was the source of the purple alien blood that covered the ground; the cause of the deaths of the aliens that were standing in front of her pods door; a warrior that her brother told her stories about, but was also told that they were myths. The figure held a blood stained battle knife and wore armor that made him look like a Greek god of war: a Spartan.
Darkness enveloped her eyes as her head hit the ground. The image of her older brother, Mike, smiled at her. Was she dying? The darkness consumed her vision as she felt cold, metal hands grasp her body and placed her on more chilled metal. Two voices conversed in her ear “For a Spartan who hasn’t seen combat for a while, that ended quick.” said a female voice. Then the voice she heard before said “I try to keep my skills sharpened, as you already know.” Was there more than just one person there? Angela couldn’t listen longer, her senses went blank as everything else did.
Angela woke on a soft bed with her brunet hair in her face. She sat up to examine the room with her drowsy blue eyes. She was in a small room with one wall torn out and replaced with an armory on a conveyer. On the other side of the room was a computer terminal and a window blinded with a thick piece of metal and bolted shut in five places, and the thing that surprised her by the most: a reinforced rack with Spartan armor stacked on the different the shelves. She didn’t dream the Spartan, that much she figured out.
A flash caught her eye and a projection of a woman with only enough clothing to cover her breast and lower hips (about halfway to her knees) appeared in front of her. “Well, look who’s awake,” she spoke in a Greek accent. Angela flinched for a second, who was this woman who just suddenly appeared out of thin air? “She’s awake?” said a boy’s voice from the other room. “Yes, earlier than we expected.” replied the woman. A tall boy about Angela’s age walked into the room, he wore a black shirt and some jeans. His short black hair and brown eyes were very familiar to Angela “Troy?!?!?” she gasped pointing a finger which the nail polish started peeling off due to the recent events.
The boy raised an eyebrow “Um… excuse me? Do I know you?” he asked. Angela’s head started swirling. The glowing woman interjected “Perhaps a formal explanation is in order.”
Troy sat on the chair from the computer desk and looked the girl in the eye “You said my name was Troy right?” the girl nodded, speechless “Well that’s only have of my name,” he continued “I am Troy Spartan three-six-seven.” The girl was still speechless. Aphrodite ‘sat’ on the bed next to her “What’s your name?” she asked. The girl trembled a little “Um… Angela Hopkins. So… you’re not Troy… the orphan kid from my high school?” Troy shook his head “Not exactly. Aphrodite here will explain.”
Aphrodite rolled her eyes. “Were to start…” She pondered “Well, he is Troy, but not the Troy you know. The one you know is a clone.” The girl shook her head “Impossible!” Aphrodite waved her silent “Angela, what do you know of the SPARTAN-II program?” Angela moved her falling hair out of her face “They are heroes; superhumans that the UNSC made to fight the Covenant.” Aphrodite shrugged to Troy. “Not originally. They were made during a civil war, but then the Covenant showed up.” Aphrodite explained.
“But aren’t Spartans supposed to be in their twenties now?” Angela looked at Troy, who shrugged off the almost-insult. “Not Troy’s unit,” Aphrodite went on “They never went public.” Angela shook her head “That doesn’t answer my question!” Aphrodite looked at Troy, as if saying “It’s your turn.” Troy nodded “Well,” he started “The SPARTAN-II program had a protocol for turning up missing children, a-k-a, me: a candidate. And that protocol said to replace me with a clone, that way no one would know I left. The me you know is a clone, not the same person as me.”
He gazed at Angela for a second, then spoke “Where were you going?” he asked. He asked partially because he couldn’t’ remember the colony he was from, and mostly why a colonial cruiser was attacked by the Covenant. Angela fidgeted for a second “We… were from an outer colony called Zenith. The aliens were attacking and we all had family somewhere…. Mine was my brother… A Marine living in the inner colonies.” Troy sighed, that answered one of his questions “Who was your captain?” He asked. “A retired UNSC captain, that’s all I know. We were attacked and-” Troy held up a hand. “And, when you were assaulted, the captain was sticking to the Cole Protocol.” Angela looked like she didn’t know what that meant... yet again, she was a civilian. “The Cole Protocol,” Aphrodite explained “All UNSC ships must enter slipspace in a random direction, and then destroy all travel logs that will reveal the location of colonies and Earth.”
“In other words,” Troy added “Your captain was reacting on instinct.” Angela put her bare feet on the cold floor standing up with a little struggle. This was unbelievable; one of the biggest jack-asses at her school was just a clone? The kids who spray painted anarchy symbols all over the walls and kept getting into trouble a Spartan? “Who are you two?” she asked. Troy also stood “M.I.A. Spartan three-six-seven and UNSC Smart A.I. Aphrodite.” Aphrodite being just an A.I. explained a lot to Angela “So we’re stuck here, huh?” she asked bluntly.
“No.” Troy said. Angela’s head snapped to Troy “Aphrodite and I talked it over. We have a plan that will get us off of this hell-hole.”
Chapter 3
1048 hours / October 23rd 2552 / military calendar
Location Unknown – Halo Construct
Angela eyed Troy as he tossed heavy tools and batteries inside the gun turret “trunk” of a warthog. Questions filled her head like water filled empty space inside a water bottle. Aphrodite appeared next to her “Strange, isn’t it?” she said. Angela had a chill go down her spine, not being used to a A.I. suddenly appearing next to her “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Angela retorted. Aphrodite giggled “Civilians, never understanding the full truth.” She set a holographic hand on the young ladies shoulder “Tell me, what was your Troy like?”
Angela shook her head “A complete asshole.” She said bluntly “All into anarchy, spray painting the school halls, always getting into trouble.” She was having a hard time believing that Troy was a Spartan: a highly respected solider and combat master. “He was also a founder of a gang called ‘the Anarchy Angles’. Everyone hated them. It was full of society rejects who couldn’t grasp the concept of civilization.” Aphrodite sighed; this girl really didn’t like Troy all that much. “I assure you, Angela, this Troy isn’t a bad person. He saved me and the information I hold from getting into Covenant hands. He was squad leader of his SPARTAN-II division, and he was the captain’s right hand man on the ship he and I were on before this mess.” Angela rolled her eyes and stood up, her shoulder phasing through Aphrodite’s holographic arm.
“Okay! I give up!” she said to Troy who turned his head to her “What’s your plan?” Troy walked around the warthog to present himself in his Mark VI armor without his helmet on. To Angela, he looked like a grown man in the armor, but still, he was her age. “We can’t leave this island yet without more supplies.” He said “My plan is to teach you how to use a gun-” Angela snapped to silence him; which really pissed Troy off, being silenced by a civilian. “I already know how to use a gun.” She sassed him “I am the leader of my JROTC’s rifle team at my high school.”
Troy nodded in respect to that information “Well then, can you handle a military issue automatic assault rifle that fires armor piercing rounds?” he asked. Angela fell silent “That’s what I thought.” Troy continued “I will also have you trained in using grenades, Covenant weapons and using gun turrets mounted on vehicles and ships.” Angela shook her head “And how will you do that?” Troy smiled as Aphrodite appeared behind him “Getting used to ODST armor with room for an A.I. will be part of your training.”
Fleet Master Soron Gasn't stood on the bridge of the flag ship Fist of Glory. His golden Covenant Armor reflected in the light as his fellow Sangheili operated the controls to the ship. They had just sent in drop-ships to the surface of the Halo and were waiting for a report from Sangheili officers they sent with ground troops to follow the ships that fell to the damned rings surface. Unlike other races of the Covenant, the Sangheili, or what the humans called “elites” (a fitting name Soron thought), were the superior race in every way. Even in smarts. The newer Sangheili who rose to positions of power in the covenant new fully well about what Halo was, and Soron planned to destroy it before the demon humans released the dreaded Flood.
“Sir!” his communications officer exclaimed “We are getting a feed from the second platoon’s officer!” Soron looked over to the communications station “Play it.” He ordered. Static rippled over the com of the bridge as a distressed voice hyperventilated: “By the Gods! We need support! Under fire! Most of the troops are dead by the hands of one demon!! He looks like a rumored Spartan! No… No DON”T GET ANY CLOSER!! NOOO!!!!” the com went dead. Uneasy muttering filled the bridge as Soron sighed. He had heard of these “Spartans” before. They were most capable human fighters to match a single Sangheili. “Any news from the first platoon?” he asked. The officer nodded “Yes, they reported the human ship crashed… no survivors.” Well at least that was good news.
“Prepare to land on the ring and make a base. We must destroy this ring before the demon releases the Flood, and, we must kill any more of these ‘Spartans’ if there are any.” Soron ordered to his crew as they gave a loud “Aye aye, sir!” He sounded calm to his crew, but he had to for he was far from calm. He wanted to personally see to the death of every human on that ring. The Fist of Glory angled to the surface of the Halo as the other two ships in the group followed. All three looked like whales swimming through the dark depths of space, ready to attack on anything that got in their way.
1215 / October 4th 2552 / Military Calendar
Pegasus 7 System – Planet Corilenia – Poseidon Space Station
Mike waited for his little sisters ship at the Poseidon Space Station in cargo shorts and a gray t-shirt with the words “ODST” printed in large black letters across the chest. He had been sent a message that things on Zenith went from peaceful to hell by his family. When he got the message, he ordered three tickets for the next colonial ship out of there; No way would he let his family suffer the Covenant’s rampage, especially Angela.
He looked at his watch; the ship was thirty minutes late. Did it run into trouble? He knew full well that the captain was a retired UNSC captain, so he figured everything would be fine. But being trained to be somewhere on the dot, he got uneasy about the fact that the ship was late. He decided to order some lunch at a nearby fast-food outlet to pass the time. He ordered his meal and sat down when it was done. The family next to him was also having lunch. Their smiles filled him with memories about Mom, Fred, and Angela.
Ever since he was a kid he wanted to project them, so he joined the Marines and became an ODST trooper, short for Orbital Drop Shock Trooper (nicknamed “Helljumpers”). He looked at the clock on the wall; it had been another fifteen minutes and still no word at all. Now he was irritated and worried. He threw away his trash and went to the desk in front of the terminal where his family should have exited forty-five minutes ago “Excuse me,” he said to the attendant who looked up at him “Is there any word from the ship that was supposed to be here?’
The women stumbled with her hands for the com “Um,” she said to him and then spoke over the com “Family of those aboard the Dawn Voyage, we have not had any contact from the captain yet… however we are to assume at this time that everyone aboard the ship is now… missing.” Mike knew what she meant by “missing” she looked up at him and said “I’m deeply sorry, sir. But if they indeed ran into trouble, the Cole Protocol may have taken them somewhere else by now.”
Mike nodded and turned around hiding all his grief as he walked to the exit of the terminal. Once he cleared the entire building, his fellow Helljumpers knew by the look on his face that they too would not see their families today.
Chapter 4
0005 Hours / October 5th / Military Calendar
Unknown System – Halo Construct
Angela let out a loud groan of pain. For the past twelve hours she was drilled harshly by both Troy and Aphrodite on everything: guns, knives, grenades, basic strategy, everything they thought was necessary. She leaned on the wall next to Troy’s room and looked at him taking off his armor; she didn’t bother to take off the ODST armor she was wearing, much less the helmet. “So why are you guys training me again?” she complained. Troy looked back to her “Because if you didn’t notice, the Covenant only sent in dropships and few troops.” Angela let out another groan of pain while clenching her left arm. She took a bad hit from a rock Troy threw at her while she was doing recon training.
“And? I thought you killed them all!” she replied. Aphrodite’s voice cracked in her helmet “Well, yes, Troy did kill them. But with light infantry being the only enemies met, we have a high probability there is a huge Covenant ship following them.” Troy exited his room were yet again a black shirt and jeans “So,” he continued explaining “Do you expect one Spartan to go up against several battalions of Covenant troops?” he looked Angela in the eye. She tried her best to escape his gaze, but she just couldn’t “No…” she finally, and quietly, managed to answer.
“You will be sleeping in my bed for the last few days we are here.” He as he put his arm around Angela. Her helmet visor started to fog up as she tried to push away, but Troy’s strength was too much. “Stay still.” He whispered. He took off her helmet to be met by a blushing teenage girl. He turned the helmet around and looked at her “You forgot one thing,” he said and with his other arm, pulled out Aphrodite. “Aphrodite doesn’t like to stay in a helmet forever.” Angela’s face was still red Regroup! she thought to herself “Um… w-where are you sleeping?” she asked at Troy inserted Aphrodite into the A.I. port near the couch. He laid his body across it and said “Right here, goodnight.”
Angela stood there for a moment, embarrassed. For a second she thought that he was going to kiss her. She went into Troy’s room and striped off her armor leaving her in nothing but the thin, tight black jumpsuit. She laid herself in the cot and rested her head on the pillow. The cot wasn’t especially comfortable, not at all like her old bed, but she really didn’t care right now. All she wanted was sleep. She closed her eyes and memories of the Troy she thought was real filled her head:
Angela walked down the main hall of Eclipse High School with her two friends: Laura, a bi-sexual French girl all the boys chased, and Kristy, a shy blonde who always had a book in her hands. They three laughed while walking past the boys room when suddenly Troy came out with his gang. They eyed the girls with perverted looks as Troy winked at Laura, who shoot him a bird in return. The gang snickered as they passed the three innocent girls. One of the thugs slapped Kristy’s butt as he walked by.
“Why don’t those creeps just drop out of school already?’ Laura said in her strong French accent. Anglea shrugged and beckoned the two to just keep walking. It was almost the end of school and they had plans for the weekend.
The last few hours of school ended and Angela waved good-bye to her friends and rushed down the hall. Suddenly a leg tripped her and she landed face flat on the floor. “Mmm… pure white today are we?” A voice said from behind her. It was Troy, and he was looking right up Angela’s skirt. Enraged, she kicked him in the face. Troy backed off for a second and just kept on grinning. He made on step towards her went a fist met his face and sent him flying. “Don’t touch my sister!” yelled a voice. It was Mike, Angela’s older brother with his brown hair in a buzz-cut.
Suddenly the bell rang again as Troy and Mike said to Angela “Wake up Angela… Wake up.”
“Hey! Wake up!” Troy yelled. Angela woke and shot out of the bed landing on the floor. “’Bout time! It’s oh-six-hundred already! We got work to do!” Angela looked up at Troy who was already in his Spartan armor. He tossed her a MA5B assault rifle and a M12 pistol “Get your armor on. We do have a whole lot of time before sunrise.” And with that he left. Aphrodite’s image appeared next to Angela “Don’t take it the wrong way.” She said kindly “But he’s been on this ring for a year now and he is on a tight schedule to leave.” Her image clicked off as Angela set her padded foot enveloped in the black jumpsuit she slept in. She quickly put on the ODST armor, slung the rifle and side armed the pistol.
The two hopped in the warthog the Troy filled with power tools “I’ll hand over Aphrodite to you once I get to work.” He said as he started the ‘hog and backed it out of the driveway. Angela just nodded. It was hard to see her expression behind the helljumper helmet, yet again, so was his own. He drove the ‘hog to the south side of the island. He glanced up to see a dance of colors by the gas giant the Halo orbited. The headlights hit a metal life pod as he slowed the jeep to a stop. He hopped out and motioned to Angela to bring him a small power saw. She brought him the saw and he gave the hand signal to stay quiet until further notice.
“So,” he said inside his helmet to Ahprodite "Were would the fuel tank be?"
So enjoy my Halo-based story of 367: fFight to Home and please take note that I only have half of Chapter 4 done.
UNSC BANDWITH
OPEN CHANNEL
This is SPARTAN-367 broadcasting on an open channel. I am currently on a Halo construct with the A.I. Aphrodite. We crash landed here on a cruiser that was taken down by Covenant forces about a week ago and are held up on a island were we wet up auto-turrets to fight off the ground and air troops.
We’ve managed to secure some UNSC property and supplies to last us about six months, but we need extraction ASAP. Aphrodite can not calculate our chances of survival as of this time... and God knows when the Covenant will unleash the Flood.
This is SPARTAN-367 with “smart” A.I. Aphrodite. If anyone is out there, please, help us. We don’t know how much time we have left.
1928 hours / October 22nd, 2552 / Military Calendar
Location: Unknown System, Halo Construct
Troy listened to the looping message five more times and sighed. It had been a year since he broadcasted that transmission, nothing. No one came. His Mark VI MJOLNR helmet polarized as he looked into the setting sun from the Warthog, how he dreaded the Halo he and Aphrodite were stuck on. They had managed to avoid the Covenant and to secure more supplies for another year, but they still were on the look out for the Flood, the parasitic life form that only had one mission: destroy all life.
He looked back to the base he managed to find on this small island. Nothing too special other than the fact he made some modifications himself. It looked like a two story high hockey puck against the changing sky. On top, Turrets with motion trackers with a range of up to 1500 meters loaded with armor piercing rounds, and some turrets, anti-tank and air missiles. On the top, the com tower he set up to send out the signal. The interior he completely changed: Furniture made form vehicle seats; some table made out of scrap metal; and salvaged computers from the UNSC cruiser they crashed in the Horizon.
“We should get back to the base…” Aphrodite said in his helmet. He inhaled and sighed. He hated this Halo. He would do anything to get back to Earth. He put the Warthog in gear and turned it around to the base.
Chapter 1
1736 hours / October 22nd, 2552
Location Unknown – Halo Construct
Tory parked the Warthog next to the Scorpion tank in what he assumed to be a garage at the time he found the base. He hopped out then walked over to the heavy multi-lock door to close it so that nothing could get in the base form that entrance. He viewed the control panel and hit the button in the top right corner. Loud revving of engines sounded in response as the heavy steel door slowly closed. Equally heavy bars clanged across the surface to brace and lock the door so that if anything wanted to break it down they’d have one hell of a hard time doing so. As the heavy door closed, the sunset reflected off of his steel-gray colored Mark VI MJOLNR armor. The same he had when he was on the Horizon, the same he had been making modifications to over the past year.
Troy then went to what he called the “lobby” of the base. It was like a control room mixed with a living room and a small kitchen. It contained furniture he made out of salvaged seats for Pelican drop ships, a large screen form the crash site of the Horizon that was connected to satellite transmission and a computer, and A.I. port needed to keep Aphrodite running, a small kitchen made from things he found on the cruiser, and a table made from scrap metal.
He ejected Aphrodite from his suites A.I. slot. She was a card with a greenish disc in the center glowing brightly. He inserted her into the A.I. port which was modified to be able to project Aphrodite any where in the base. A hologram of a woman in her twenties with long flowing brunet hair, hazel eyes wearing just enough clothing to cover the more personal areas of the female anatomy. This made Troy wonder why an A.I. would choose that kind of form. “Well you certainly had a time with the new suspension on the ‘Hog.” She said crossing her arms.
Troy nodded taking off his helmet. Aphrodite put a holographic hand on his check “You should get out of that armor. You’re not going to be working on anything tonight except catching up on some much needed rest.” She sounded like a mother, which was ironic because she was made only three years ago. “Alright.” Troy said, his voice a little raspy from all the hills he jumped in the Warthog today. He went to a door on the other side of the slightly spaced room, it automatically opened revealing a small room with a reinforced rack with clothing hung on hangers on the bottom bar, a wall that was replaced with a conveyer to make a armory filled with weapons latched to it so they wouldn’t fall, a locked and blinded window, a cot, ammunition crates near the armory, and a personal computer.
He started to take off the half-ton armor off piece by piece setting each on the reinforced rack. He then put on some jeans, a black shirt, and some civilian shoes with the name brand “Vans”. He looked wear he set his helmet on the rack and saw next to it a pair of old school “dog tags”. He remembered the day he found them when he was a kid going through SPARTAN training. He had them laser printed to have his name and SPARTAN number on them. He grabbed them and put them on; the small metal beads were chilled on his warm skin.
He re-entered the “lobby” and went to a closet in the small kitchen. The door opened to revile cooled racks filled with ration packets, bottles of water and mess-kits. He grabbed a packet of freeze-dried ice cream and some water. It had been a while since he last ate so he wanted something to reward himself for another week of survival. He sat at the scrap metal table as Aphrodite appeared across form him. “I took the liberty of running our standard lock down.” She informed him. The standard lock down meant that she locked all entrances to the building along with blinding, reinforcing, heavy bolting and blinding all the windows.
She also monitored the turrets on top of the building. To save the element surprise, she made sure they were on minimum radar distance to fire upon anything that moves, has a heat signature, and didn’t look like part of the landscape. Troy smiled “Well at least if we are attacked, we will know who it is by the sound of the knock.” He opened his packet of ice cream and bit into the bar colored chocolate brown. The slight chalky taste was sweet on his taste buds. He drank some water with the piece of freeze dried ice cream still in his mouth. The cold water mixed with the already present taste filled his tongue with even more enjoyment.
“Time?” he asked the A.I. as he gobbled down the snack. “Checking…” Aphrodite replied “2038 hours. You’re turning in early?” she asked. Troy nodded. He tossed his trash in a makeshift waste basket next to the table and went to his room. “Open all channels and monitor for any signals, notify me if anything happens.” He said to Aphrodite who in turn nodded in response and disappeared. Troy entered his room and took of the shirt he was wearing. He flopped on the cot and closed his eyes, he wanted to have a good eight hours of sleep tonight.
2317 hours / October 22nd 2552
Aboard Colonial Transport Cruiser (CTC) ship Dawn Voyage
“GET US OUT OF THEIR RANGE NOW!” yelled Captain Gordon. His ship was under attack by Covenant forces. From what the NAV Officer could tell, they had two destroyers and one frigate on their tail. “Sir! We have to drop out of Slipspace now!” said the NAV Officer. “Damn it!” the last thing Gordon wanted to do was drop out of Slipspace in an unknown area “Drop us out!” he finally said after hesitating. The hull of the ship shook as a plasma blast violently hit the side of the ship.
The view screens showed stars as they dropped out of Slipspace. All was quiet on the bridge as the entire crew stared in awe at the sight before them. A purple gas giant stood there in the empty space, but it wasn’t the planet that caught their attention. It was what was orbiting it. A ring, with what looked like land on it. The captain had heard about these rings before; the UNSC and the Covenant called them “Halo”. Being a retired UNSC captain himself the captain knew of what was on Halo, but he had no choice, he had to land on it. “Prepare to land on the ring, give me ful-” a crash of plasma hit their rear engines. The ship was falling and fast.
“DAMIT! GET ME ON SHIP COM! READY THE LIFE BOATS!!” he ordered. “SHIP COM opened, sir!” yelled the communications officer. “Attention Dawn Voyage passengers.” The captain announced “As you may know, we are under attack by the Covenant. Life pods have been readied and the crew and I urge you to get on one and land on the ring.” Static followed on the COM as the Covenant jammed all their communications. The Captain knew no one was getting on that Halo alive.
Everyone was rushing into a life pod trampling over one another as people trampled over one another to get onto the unknown ring. Chaos wreaked across the entire ship as humans scrambled aboard small cramped life pods. Numerous thuds shook the ship as Covenant drop ships detached life pods and took their place. Air hatches were blown open to reveal Covenant troops. Grunts, Jackals and Elites poured forth and opened fire upon the human civilians with their plasma weapons.
Bloody cries rang through the halls of the ship followed by pools of the crimson blood of the innocent. Small resistance of the men aboard the ship battled the invaders as their families got aboard the life pods and jettisoned in to space, but to no anvil. All the life pods either crashed into enemy drop ships or were gunned down by Covenant fighters. Surviving life pods, victims to the last blow, viewed the explosion of the engines of the Dawn Voyage. Bright orange mixed with red created a painting of destruction on the black background of space.
The Dawn Voyage started to fall. The explosion of her engines sent her hurling into the atmosphere of the Halo along with a single surviving life pod. The two vessels entered the atmosphere only to start to flame up. Their paths split; the Voyager angled into a large continent, while the life pod raced towards a small island. Both were followed closely by the Covenant. Flames brightened up the night sky of the Halo, turning it into a bright orange while blinding the surface to the stars.
Aboard the life pod, a message rang on the radio: This is SPARTAN-367 broadcasting on an open channel. I am currently on a Halo construct with the A.I. Aphrodite. We crash landed here on a cruiser that was taken down by Covenant forces about a week ago and are held up on a island were we set up auto-turrets to fight off the ground and air troops.
We’ve managed to secure some UNSC property and supplies to last us about six months, but we need extraction ASAP. Aphrodite cannot calculate our chances of survival as of this time... and God knows when the Covenant will unleash the Flood.
This is SPARTAN-367 with “smart” A.I. Aphrodite. If anyone is out there, please, help us. We don’t know how much time we have left.
Chapter 2
0015 hours / October 23rd 2552 / Military Calendar
Location Unknown – Halo Construct
“Troy…. TROY!!!” Aphrodite yelled into Troys ear who woke with a start,. “What?!?” he yelled back. Aphrodite turned on the speakers to play a message: “Mayday! Mayday! This is colonial transport cruiser Dawn Voyage. We’ve been attacked by Covenant forces and are going down fast! We are about to crash on a ring of som-” Troy’s eyes widened “When was this transmission sent?” he asked. Aphrodite crossed her arms “Five minutes ago.” Her head snapped up “Proximity warning: Covenant and Non-Covenant ships in bound!” Troy got out of the cot and immediately striped his jeans off to put on his Mark VI MJOLNR armor.
“Are the Covenant following them?” Troy asked as he snapped on his armors leggings. “Affirmative.” Aphrodite answered. Troy put on his torso and arm armor then grabbed his helmet and put it on.. He went to his armory and grabbed an assault rifle, pistol, a handful of grenades and enough ammo to last him a good fight. This was now a rescue mission. A loud crash rang from outside the base. Troy stormed out of his room and sprinted to the A.I. terminal. “You’re taking me with you?” Aphrodite inquired. Troy gave his response by yanking her A.I. chip out of the terminal and shoving it into his helmets A.I. port “I’ll need all the help I can get.” He said coldly.
He sprinted down to the garage and opened the heavy metal door with his rifle pointed at the slowly appearing gap, ready to fire at any Covenant troops on sight. He backed up to the Warthog and jumped in the driver’s seat. “Target for rescue is a five minute drive south of our position.” Aphrodite informed Troy. “Did you leave the turrets online?” he asked as he revved the engine. “Yes, I programmed their computers to fir on only Covenant-looking troops and ships.” Aphrodite replied as troy hit the gas hard. The Warthog sprang to life as the light recon vehicle jetted out of the garage.
Angela’s head rang loudly as if someone took a large bell and rung it as loud as they could next to her ear. Her vision started to focus better after the crash landing of her life pod. Where was she? She asked herself. All she could remember was her parents getting separated from her, shouts and screams of the people around her… and the monsters. The infamous Covenant she heard about on the ship of refugees. She looked around the inside of the pod, no one but her was in it. She sat up on the ground she had laid on for what seemed like hours.
Rustling came from outside the pods door as the figure of a bird-like alien steped to it banging harshly on the window. A Kig-Yar, or what her father said the UNSC marines called them “Jackels”. Its beaded eyes were focused on her with murderous intent. She couldn’t see its arms, but it was reaching for something. She backed away behind a chair to escape its sight. Her memories of everything that she had been told about the Covenant and its quest to kill all humans. She let out a cry of fear when she heard bones snaping.
She looked to the window and saw the Jackels face expressionless and limp. Then something picked it up and threw it off the door. There was a pause. Gunfire rang out as Angela listened to the blood-cries and death rattles of the covenant troops from the dropship that followed her life pod. She saw the shadow of what her brother told her was Elite firing a plasma rifle. Something stabbed it in the throat with a knife; a steel-gray gauntleted hand. Did the UNSC have a presence here? That would contribute to one possibility why the captain ordered everyone to land on this… ring-world. The elite fell and all was silent.
She decided it was safe to move toward the door. She hit the button on the side to open it. The doors moters were damaged in the crash so they opened slower that the fast rate they should have. The sun light blinded her as she stumbled out as she felt the ground below her. A filtered voice spoke to her “Are you alright?” it sounded battle hardened, yet somehow still youthful. She looked up to see who was speaking. She might have been dreaming, but standing before her was the source of the purple alien blood that covered the ground; the cause of the deaths of the aliens that were standing in front of her pods door; a warrior that her brother told her stories about, but was also told that they were myths. The figure held a blood stained battle knife and wore armor that made him look like a Greek god of war: a Spartan.
Darkness enveloped her eyes as her head hit the ground. The image of her older brother, Mike, smiled at her. Was she dying? The darkness consumed her vision as she felt cold, metal hands grasp her body and placed her on more chilled metal. Two voices conversed in her ear “For a Spartan who hasn’t seen combat for a while, that ended quick.” said a female voice. Then the voice she heard before said “I try to keep my skills sharpened, as you already know.” Was there more than just one person there? Angela couldn’t listen longer, her senses went blank as everything else did.
Angela woke on a soft bed with her brunet hair in her face. She sat up to examine the room with her drowsy blue eyes. She was in a small room with one wall torn out and replaced with an armory on a conveyer. On the other side of the room was a computer terminal and a window blinded with a thick piece of metal and bolted shut in five places, and the thing that surprised her by the most: a reinforced rack with Spartan armor stacked on the different the shelves. She didn’t dream the Spartan, that much she figured out.
A flash caught her eye and a projection of a woman with only enough clothing to cover her breast and lower hips (about halfway to her knees) appeared in front of her. “Well, look who’s awake,” she spoke in a Greek accent. Angela flinched for a second, who was this woman who just suddenly appeared out of thin air? “She’s awake?” said a boy’s voice from the other room. “Yes, earlier than we expected.” replied the woman. A tall boy about Angela’s age walked into the room, he wore a black shirt and some jeans. His short black hair and brown eyes were very familiar to Angela “Troy?!?!?” she gasped pointing a finger which the nail polish started peeling off due to the recent events.
The boy raised an eyebrow “Um… excuse me? Do I know you?” he asked. Angela’s head started swirling. The glowing woman interjected “Perhaps a formal explanation is in order.”
Troy sat on the chair from the computer desk and looked the girl in the eye “You said my name was Troy right?” the girl nodded, speechless “Well that’s only have of my name,” he continued “I am Troy Spartan three-six-seven.” The girl was still speechless. Aphrodite ‘sat’ on the bed next to her “What’s your name?” she asked. The girl trembled a little “Um… Angela Hopkins. So… you’re not Troy… the orphan kid from my high school?” Troy shook his head “Not exactly. Aphrodite here will explain.”
Aphrodite rolled her eyes. “Were to start…” She pondered “Well, he is Troy, but not the Troy you know. The one you know is a clone.” The girl shook her head “Impossible!” Aphrodite waved her silent “Angela, what do you know of the SPARTAN-II program?” Angela moved her falling hair out of her face “They are heroes; superhumans that the UNSC made to fight the Covenant.” Aphrodite shrugged to Troy. “Not originally. They were made during a civil war, but then the Covenant showed up.” Aphrodite explained.
“But aren’t Spartans supposed to be in their twenties now?” Angela looked at Troy, who shrugged off the almost-insult. “Not Troy’s unit,” Aphrodite went on “They never went public.” Angela shook her head “That doesn’t answer my question!” Aphrodite looked at Troy, as if saying “It’s your turn.” Troy nodded “Well,” he started “The SPARTAN-II program had a protocol for turning up missing children, a-k-a, me: a candidate. And that protocol said to replace me with a clone, that way no one would know I left. The me you know is a clone, not the same person as me.”
He gazed at Angela for a second, then spoke “Where were you going?” he asked. He asked partially because he couldn’t’ remember the colony he was from, and mostly why a colonial cruiser was attacked by the Covenant. Angela fidgeted for a second “We… were from an outer colony called Zenith. The aliens were attacking and we all had family somewhere…. Mine was my brother… A Marine living in the inner colonies.” Troy sighed, that answered one of his questions “Who was your captain?” He asked. “A retired UNSC captain, that’s all I know. We were attacked and-” Troy held up a hand. “And, when you were assaulted, the captain was sticking to the Cole Protocol.” Angela looked like she didn’t know what that meant... yet again, she was a civilian. “The Cole Protocol,” Aphrodite explained “All UNSC ships must enter slipspace in a random direction, and then destroy all travel logs that will reveal the location of colonies and Earth.”
“In other words,” Troy added “Your captain was reacting on instinct.” Angela put her bare feet on the cold floor standing up with a little struggle. This was unbelievable; one of the biggest jack-asses at her school was just a clone? The kids who spray painted anarchy symbols all over the walls and kept getting into trouble a Spartan? “Who are you two?” she asked. Troy also stood “M.I.A. Spartan three-six-seven and UNSC Smart A.I. Aphrodite.” Aphrodite being just an A.I. explained a lot to Angela “So we’re stuck here, huh?” she asked bluntly.
“No.” Troy said. Angela’s head snapped to Troy “Aphrodite and I talked it over. We have a plan that will get us off of this hell-hole.”
Chapter 3
1048 hours / October 23rd 2552 / military calendar
Location Unknown – Halo Construct
Angela eyed Troy as he tossed heavy tools and batteries inside the gun turret “trunk” of a warthog. Questions filled her head like water filled empty space inside a water bottle. Aphrodite appeared next to her “Strange, isn’t it?” she said. Angela had a chill go down her spine, not being used to a A.I. suddenly appearing next to her “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Angela retorted. Aphrodite giggled “Civilians, never understanding the full truth.” She set a holographic hand on the young ladies shoulder “Tell me, what was your Troy like?”
Angela shook her head “A complete asshole.” She said bluntly “All into anarchy, spray painting the school halls, always getting into trouble.” She was having a hard time believing that Troy was a Spartan: a highly respected solider and combat master. “He was also a founder of a gang called ‘the Anarchy Angles’. Everyone hated them. It was full of society rejects who couldn’t grasp the concept of civilization.” Aphrodite sighed; this girl really didn’t like Troy all that much. “I assure you, Angela, this Troy isn’t a bad person. He saved me and the information I hold from getting into Covenant hands. He was squad leader of his SPARTAN-II division, and he was the captain’s right hand man on the ship he and I were on before this mess.” Angela rolled her eyes and stood up, her shoulder phasing through Aphrodite’s holographic arm.
“Okay! I give up!” she said to Troy who turned his head to her “What’s your plan?” Troy walked around the warthog to present himself in his Mark VI armor without his helmet on. To Angela, he looked like a grown man in the armor, but still, he was her age. “We can’t leave this island yet without more supplies.” He said “My plan is to teach you how to use a gun-” Angela snapped to silence him; which really pissed Troy off, being silenced by a civilian. “I already know how to use a gun.” She sassed him “I am the leader of my JROTC’s rifle team at my high school.”
Troy nodded in respect to that information “Well then, can you handle a military issue automatic assault rifle that fires armor piercing rounds?” he asked. Angela fell silent “That’s what I thought.” Troy continued “I will also have you trained in using grenades, Covenant weapons and using gun turrets mounted on vehicles and ships.” Angela shook her head “And how will you do that?” Troy smiled as Aphrodite appeared behind him “Getting used to ODST armor with room for an A.I. will be part of your training.”
Fleet Master Soron Gasn't stood on the bridge of the flag ship Fist of Glory. His golden Covenant Armor reflected in the light as his fellow Sangheili operated the controls to the ship. They had just sent in drop-ships to the surface of the Halo and were waiting for a report from Sangheili officers they sent with ground troops to follow the ships that fell to the damned rings surface. Unlike other races of the Covenant, the Sangheili, or what the humans called “elites” (a fitting name Soron thought), were the superior race in every way. Even in smarts. The newer Sangheili who rose to positions of power in the covenant new fully well about what Halo was, and Soron planned to destroy it before the demon humans released the dreaded Flood.
“Sir!” his communications officer exclaimed “We are getting a feed from the second platoon’s officer!” Soron looked over to the communications station “Play it.” He ordered. Static rippled over the com of the bridge as a distressed voice hyperventilated: “By the Gods! We need support! Under fire! Most of the troops are dead by the hands of one demon!! He looks like a rumored Spartan! No… No DON”T GET ANY CLOSER!! NOOO!!!!” the com went dead. Uneasy muttering filled the bridge as Soron sighed. He had heard of these “Spartans” before. They were most capable human fighters to match a single Sangheili. “Any news from the first platoon?” he asked. The officer nodded “Yes, they reported the human ship crashed… no survivors.” Well at least that was good news.
“Prepare to land on the ring and make a base. We must destroy this ring before the demon releases the Flood, and, we must kill any more of these ‘Spartans’ if there are any.” Soron ordered to his crew as they gave a loud “Aye aye, sir!” He sounded calm to his crew, but he had to for he was far from calm. He wanted to personally see to the death of every human on that ring. The Fist of Glory angled to the surface of the Halo as the other two ships in the group followed. All three looked like whales swimming through the dark depths of space, ready to attack on anything that got in their way.
1215 / October 4th 2552 / Military Calendar
Pegasus 7 System – Planet Corilenia – Poseidon Space Station
Mike waited for his little sisters ship at the Poseidon Space Station in cargo shorts and a gray t-shirt with the words “ODST” printed in large black letters across the chest. He had been sent a message that things on Zenith went from peaceful to hell by his family. When he got the message, he ordered three tickets for the next colonial ship out of there; No way would he let his family suffer the Covenant’s rampage, especially Angela.
He looked at his watch; the ship was thirty minutes late. Did it run into trouble? He knew full well that the captain was a retired UNSC captain, so he figured everything would be fine. But being trained to be somewhere on the dot, he got uneasy about the fact that the ship was late. He decided to order some lunch at a nearby fast-food outlet to pass the time. He ordered his meal and sat down when it was done. The family next to him was also having lunch. Their smiles filled him with memories about Mom, Fred, and Angela.
Ever since he was a kid he wanted to project them, so he joined the Marines and became an ODST trooper, short for Orbital Drop Shock Trooper (nicknamed “Helljumpers”). He looked at the clock on the wall; it had been another fifteen minutes and still no word at all. Now he was irritated and worried. He threw away his trash and went to the desk in front of the terminal where his family should have exited forty-five minutes ago “Excuse me,” he said to the attendant who looked up at him “Is there any word from the ship that was supposed to be here?’
The women stumbled with her hands for the com “Um,” she said to him and then spoke over the com “Family of those aboard the Dawn Voyage, we have not had any contact from the captain yet… however we are to assume at this time that everyone aboard the ship is now… missing.” Mike knew what she meant by “missing” she looked up at him and said “I’m deeply sorry, sir. But if they indeed ran into trouble, the Cole Protocol may have taken them somewhere else by now.”
Mike nodded and turned around hiding all his grief as he walked to the exit of the terminal. Once he cleared the entire building, his fellow Helljumpers knew by the look on his face that they too would not see their families today.
Chapter 4
0005 Hours / October 5th / Military Calendar
Unknown System – Halo Construct
Angela let out a loud groan of pain. For the past twelve hours she was drilled harshly by both Troy and Aphrodite on everything: guns, knives, grenades, basic strategy, everything they thought was necessary. She leaned on the wall next to Troy’s room and looked at him taking off his armor; she didn’t bother to take off the ODST armor she was wearing, much less the helmet. “So why are you guys training me again?” she complained. Troy looked back to her “Because if you didn’t notice, the Covenant only sent in dropships and few troops.” Angela let out another groan of pain while clenching her left arm. She took a bad hit from a rock Troy threw at her while she was doing recon training.
“And? I thought you killed them all!” she replied. Aphrodite’s voice cracked in her helmet “Well, yes, Troy did kill them. But with light infantry being the only enemies met, we have a high probability there is a huge Covenant ship following them.” Troy exited his room were yet again a black shirt and jeans “So,” he continued explaining “Do you expect one Spartan to go up against several battalions of Covenant troops?” he looked Angela in the eye. She tried her best to escape his gaze, but she just couldn’t “No…” she finally, and quietly, managed to answer.
“You will be sleeping in my bed for the last few days we are here.” He as he put his arm around Angela. Her helmet visor started to fog up as she tried to push away, but Troy’s strength was too much. “Stay still.” He whispered. He took off her helmet to be met by a blushing teenage girl. He turned the helmet around and looked at her “You forgot one thing,” he said and with his other arm, pulled out Aphrodite. “Aphrodite doesn’t like to stay in a helmet forever.” Angela’s face was still red Regroup! she thought to herself “Um… w-where are you sleeping?” she asked at Troy inserted Aphrodite into the A.I. port near the couch. He laid his body across it and said “Right here, goodnight.”
Angela stood there for a moment, embarrassed. For a second she thought that he was going to kiss her. She went into Troy’s room and striped off her armor leaving her in nothing but the thin, tight black jumpsuit. She laid herself in the cot and rested her head on the pillow. The cot wasn’t especially comfortable, not at all like her old bed, but she really didn’t care right now. All she wanted was sleep. She closed her eyes and memories of the Troy she thought was real filled her head:
Angela walked down the main hall of Eclipse High School with her two friends: Laura, a bi-sexual French girl all the boys chased, and Kristy, a shy blonde who always had a book in her hands. They three laughed while walking past the boys room when suddenly Troy came out with his gang. They eyed the girls with perverted looks as Troy winked at Laura, who shoot him a bird in return. The gang snickered as they passed the three innocent girls. One of the thugs slapped Kristy’s butt as he walked by.
“Why don’t those creeps just drop out of school already?’ Laura said in her strong French accent. Anglea shrugged and beckoned the two to just keep walking. It was almost the end of school and they had plans for the weekend.
The last few hours of school ended and Angela waved good-bye to her friends and rushed down the hall. Suddenly a leg tripped her and she landed face flat on the floor. “Mmm… pure white today are we?” A voice said from behind her. It was Troy, and he was looking right up Angela’s skirt. Enraged, she kicked him in the face. Troy backed off for a second and just kept on grinning. He made on step towards her went a fist met his face and sent him flying. “Don’t touch my sister!” yelled a voice. It was Mike, Angela’s older brother with his brown hair in a buzz-cut.
Suddenly the bell rang again as Troy and Mike said to Angela “Wake up Angela… Wake up.”
“Hey! Wake up!” Troy yelled. Angela woke and shot out of the bed landing on the floor. “’Bout time! It’s oh-six-hundred already! We got work to do!” Angela looked up at Troy who was already in his Spartan armor. He tossed her a MA5B assault rifle and a M12 pistol “Get your armor on. We do have a whole lot of time before sunrise.” And with that he left. Aphrodite’s image appeared next to Angela “Don’t take it the wrong way.” She said kindly “But he’s been on this ring for a year now and he is on a tight schedule to leave.” Her image clicked off as Angela set her padded foot enveloped in the black jumpsuit she slept in. She quickly put on the ODST armor, slung the rifle and side armed the pistol.
The two hopped in the warthog the Troy filled with power tools “I’ll hand over Aphrodite to you once I get to work.” He said as he started the ‘hog and backed it out of the driveway. Angela just nodded. It was hard to see her expression behind the helljumper helmet, yet again, so was his own. He drove the ‘hog to the south side of the island. He glanced up to see a dance of colors by the gas giant the Halo orbited. The headlights hit a metal life pod as he slowed the jeep to a stop. He hopped out and motioned to Angela to bring him a small power saw. She brought him the saw and he gave the hand signal to stay quiet until further notice.
“So,” he said inside his helmet to Ahprodite "Were would the fuel tank be?"