Welcome to Halo Epic!
At The End of Reason is a multi-authored fan fiction being developed by a team of ten writers. Each chapter is written by a different author. As of now, there is no set number of chapters about to be produced, so we will continue until this burns itself out, and then start anew once more! Please enjoy – first up is the prologue, written by Vigil.
Prologue
UNSC offices, Casbah- On the planet Tribute
September 14th 2480 Military calendar 14.00
Corporal Reynolds stood outside the massive glass tower that made up the UNSC’s headquarters. In front of him was a massive crowd, all holding up banners and chanting as one. He could make out some of the signs. Some read ‘End the UNSC’s reign of tyranny’, and ‘Unlock the shackles of military oppression’. Angry shouts came from the mob as they looked at the fifty soldiers that had cordoned off the building and stood guard by the entrance.
A precautionary measure, his superiors had told him, just in case this peaceful demonstration got out of hand. Reynolds personally didn’t understand what they were complaining about. For over 300 years the UNSC had help humanity grow and colonise hundreds of worlds and kept the species alive, and had spread wealth and work over a huge interstellar empire.
The protestors on the other hand, thought differently. As Tribute was in the outer colonies, on the edges of UNSC territory, they felt they were being ignored by the unified government back on Earth. Many people Reynolds had talked to in the barracks, thought that the outer colonies were going to secede from the UNSC, cutting all ties and fending for themselves.
He mopped the sweat from his face, and ran a hand thought his untidy blonde hair. Reynolds was young, only in his twenties and had been born here in the city. His father had been a marine as well, and he had always wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps. His dream had been realised only a few months ago, when he completed boot camp and been assigned to guard the city. So far it hadn’t been so bad, just a few tense moments with a few deranged people.
This felt different though. The crowd seemed enraged, and Reynolds thought it would only take one spark to set them off, and the whole thing would get very nasty, very quickly.
He turned to his superior, Captain Petersen. He was in his forties and had an untidy mop of greying hair. His dark green eyes stared at him with look of hatred. Petersen was a no-nonsense, by the book kind of officer, and he disliked Reynolds intensely. Reynolds wasn’t sure why this was; he just assumed he disliked every new recruit.
‘This looks bad sir,’ Reynolds commented, as he looked at the crowds in front of him.
‘I wouldn’t worry about it corporal. We’ve got the situation covered, they be foolish to attack, armed marines.’ Petersen said confidently.
‘That’s not what I’m worried about sir. What would happen if we do have to open fire sir? They’re unarmed civilians, I don’t like how that could be interpreted.’ Reynolds admitted.
‘We’re only going to fire if they force us too; we aren’t going to massacre them, even though they deserve it,’ Petersen said bitterly.
‘What do you mean sir?’ Reynolds asked, curious about his superior’s words.
‘I’ve been in the Corps for nearly twenty years, and in that time, we’ve kept these people safe, and kept their rosy little life from descending into anarchy , and this is how they repay us?’ Petersen said, pointing at the angry mob below them.
‘I’d love to put a bullet in some of them, to just to teach them a lesson, but I have my orders, as do you, so get to your position solider!’ Petersen said.
Without another word Reynolds to his position with several other marines, guarding the barriers that had been placed to keep the protestors back. All of them held MA5B’s in their arms and stood facing the mob, looking for any signs of danger. Reynolds watched the crowd intently, his eyes moving from person, to person looking for any that looked to be here for more than just protesting.
Then there was a crack of a gunshot that drowned out the sound of the crowd’s cries. Reynolds felt his heart pounding in his chest as he looked around trying to find out where the shot had come from. Another gunshot rang out, and screams rang out from the crowd. In the distance, Reynolds could hear Petersen say,
‘Cease fire. Cease fire!’
It was then they realised that the marines hadn’t fired. A third shot whizzed pass Reynolds as it hit the marine next to him, catching his neck. The man went down clutching the wound as blood spurted from it. More gunshots rang out, and more marines fell. Petersen then shouted,
‘All marines, open fire, take those bastards out!’
A marine near Petersen said, ‘But sir! I don’t have a shot. Where are they?’
Petersen pointed at the crowd. Most of the protestors were trying to flee, and the huge masses of people were struggling to clear the street quickly. Several people fell and they were crushed by the panicked protestors behind them.
‘There’s your target marine, give them hell,’ Petersen barked.
‘But sir they’re-,’ the marine started to say before being cut off by Petersen.
‘Are you questioning my orders? Shoot them!’
Reynolds hesitated as his comrades took aim at their defenceless people, running for their lives. He was about to fire when he noticed three men, armed with rifles, trying to blend into the crowd. He pointed at them and said,
‘Look. There’s the real enemy, shoot them, not the civilians.’
Before Petersen could reply and scold Reynolds for insubordination, the other marines aimed at the gunmen and fired careful bursts, trying to avoid hurting the protestors. The first man fell, then the second. Reynolds had a clear shot on the third, but the man ducked into the crowd and Reynolds lost him.
A gunshot rang out and five civilians fell, blood spurting from the wounds in their backs. Reynolds made out that two were young men and the third was a woman. The other two were middle aged men. Petersen lowered his still smoking rifle and turned to Reynolds. Reynolds was dumbstruck by his superior’s act, he couldn’t say anything. Once he was able to speak again he yelled at the captain,
‘What the hell are you doing?!’
‘I eliminated the threat, something you greenhorns didn’t manage,’ Petersen said calmly, looking at disgust at the bodies.
‘Do you have any idea what you’ve done? People will remember this, and they’ll grow angry because of it. You’ve given them a reason to hate us!’ Reynolds replied.
‘I showed them what we are capable off, because of my actions; this ‘rebellion’ is over!’ Petersen shouted as he angrily turned his back to them and headed into the building.
Reynolds looked down at the street, and the scattered signs and the crumpled corpses. He had a horrible feeling that Petersen was wrong. This wasn’t the end. It was only the beginning.
End of Prologue
Chapter 1: Welcome to BC
UNSC prison, Fela- on the planet Tribute
september 15th 2480, Military calender 5.00
Resting in my nice, hard prison mattress, half awake, half asleep, wondering how I got into this mess. The thoughts kept me up all night, preventing me from sleeping. Every time I tried to sleep, the thoughts crept back into my head. Although, I guess I should be thankful that I'm not dead...yet. As I tried to shut my eyes, hoping this would all go away, the guard banged my cell door.
"Hey, wake up" The guard said with a deep voice,
I got up, rubbing my eyes, looking at my bleak empty cell, with only a toliet and sink to keep my company. It was all blurry, but I could make out the figure at the cell door. I looked up at the guard. He looked straight at me, as far as I could tell anyway, and said:
"It's your lucky day" He said.
With a yawn, I asked, "How's that?"
"The UNSC Headquarters came under attack last night, and they need more soldiers there to fortify the base. Or, in your case, just a distraction for the enemy." The guard said, with a faint smile.
I didn't have the same attitude as him, but it meant I get to live; for just a little longer anyway. The guard opened the doored the door, and as I walked out, he said,
"Have fun"
I didn't turn around, it was too early and I wasn't in the mood. I walked into another room to collect my gear. I walked up to the counter, no one was there. Looking around, I saw a mirror. The one in my cell was broken and foggy, and was impossible to see any thing out of it. I walked up to it to look at myself. My brown hair was in a mess; they don't allow brushes or combs in a cell. My face still pale and dirty, as I was afraid using the sink might give me some disease. My brown eyes are just a little glassier than usual, but that comes from not sleeping. The blue prison uniform with the numbers "76952198", made me seem thinner.
As I was looking in the mirror, an old man yelled,
"hey sonny! Quit posing and come get your stuff!"
I was startled from the yell, but was too tired to be affected by it. I walked over to the counter and saw the old man. His white hair seemed to reflect the light right into my eyes, making me squint even more.
"Just sign here, please" He said, pointing to a slip of paper. He gave me a pen, and I signed my name.
He took the paper and went into the back room. He came back with a bag that had my stuff and uniform in it.
"That'll be 300 for bag" he said,
That snapped me out of my transe to make me say,
"uhhhh, what?!"
He let out a slight chuckle,
"I'm just kidding, lighten up sonny"
That was easy for him to say. I took my bag and went into the bathroom to change out of my ugly blue uniform, into my military uniform. It made me look better. Looking in the bag, I saw my compass, first aid kit, water jug, my pillow, and my locket with a picture. My pistol and knife weren't in there, but that was to be expected. taking my bag over my shoulder, I left the prison and went to the gate. The gatemen opened the gate, and I walked into the open lot.
The sun was still down and still dark out, but it felt good to be on the outside. The morning air was nice, a little cold, but not as bad as it was in that cell. I took in the fresh air for the breif moment I had before a pelican landed. That was my ride to the base. The back door opened, and I walked in. I throw my bag unto one of the empty seats. I took a seat in the empty pelican. The pelican lifted off, and I was on my way to the Casbah. The pelican cargo bay was spacious without other marines inside, but I still felt cramped in. I layed down, shutting my eyes, thinking, "don't screw up, or you'll die".
I feel asleep with those thoughts still stuck in my head. The pilot said into the com,
"Wake up buddy, we're here"
I got up as the door was opening. It must have been a long flight, as the sun was out, and beating down on me. Grabbing my bag, I walked out of the pelican. It lifted off and left me here alone; or so I thought. I turned around and say a big black guy right behind me. I looked up at him and saw a big scar from his ear to his chin. His muscles seemed to buldge out of his arms, which it seems he ripped the sleeves right off his uniform.
"Ah, you must be the new guy" He said, in his deep voice,
I nodded. He gave me a small smile.
"Well then, Welcome to Bad Company"
Chapter 2 Team Archangel – By Reavermaker/dragoon9105
Current Location UNSC ship Fires over heaven in orbit above UNSC world Tribute
Date: September 15 2480, Time 0800 Hours
Helmet cam 2236 Operating
>> Playback Start
I was standing silently at the Hangar door. The lights were dim and flickering from disrepair. Pelican exhaust fumes were coating the ground forming a thin fog. I walked over to my team's pelican, #94, the rest of my squad was waiting there for me already.
The sergeant approached me looking a bit angry. He was a bit older than the rest of the squad and he had an unlit cigarette in his mouth. "Well there ya are, get your equipment and get in the bird, oh and welcome to Team Archangel."
I grabbed my equipment off the ramp and found a seat inside the pelican. The sergeant followed me and took the seat closest to the door.
The hatch slowly closed tight then sealed with a hissing sound. The air in the pelican was a bit hotter and moist compared to the cold lifeless hangar outside.
I looked over to the Marine across from me. He was fully suited up, cleaning a M6D pistol with a cloth. He crumpled the cloth and shoved it into his bag.
"How ya doing new guy, name's Jeffery Havoc," he said as he holstered the pistol.
"Not too well, this is my first drop."
It really was my first drop. I finished my Force Recon training not too long ago and was transferred out here to the middle of nowhere. Well I shouldn't complain, I could be one of the poor saps down at the frontlines being used as cannon fodder.
"Don't worry kid, just don't get shot and you'll be fine."
The large hangar doors unlocked and began to open. The pelican lifted off the metal floor and was sucked out of the hanger into the vacuum of space.
The com came online briefly, allowing the pilot to speak.
"This is your pilot speaking, we have been cleared to commence our descent, grab your things and hold on for dear life."
Everything began to rock and shake as the pelican began its descent. The lights in the cargo bay blacked out to conserve power.
I switched my helmet's filter to night vision and took a look around. The rest of the HUD started to appear afterwards. First the helmet's built in GPS appeared in the bottom left corner of the visor, followed by my team's waypoints. I was H15, Havoc was H2, the sergeant was H1 and the rest of the squad wasn't loaded into the battle net yet.
"Hey Sarge, why aren't we going down in HEV's?" Somebody said over the com.
"Since we need to limit civilian casualties we're doing a Para drop, our objective is to establish a satellite uplink on the surface; it seems the rebels thought it would be fun to shoot the old one in the area"
"And after that?"
"We shoot any rebel on sight and keep an eye out for anything suspicious."
"Let's just hope the equipment doesn't break until we at least hit the ground, Forester!" Havoc interjected as he turned his head over to another marine playing around with a piece of the uplink.
"It was an accident, ok, let it go."
"We are now finished breaking through Tribute's atmosphere, we should be cleared for drop in an hour," the pilot announced over the com
I heard the sergeant's com spark; I think everybody in the bay did. I could make out of the voice of the pilot faintly but not what he was saying. The sergeant nodded as he listen to the pilot then stood up.
"Change of plans, Marines! Lock and load, we're dropping now!"
Chapter 3: A Remaining Spark of Hope- By Omega
Epsilon Eridani System
Casbah, Tribute
Apartment of Claire Ochoa
15 September, 2480
Thursday, 1020 Hours
"...and in a scene of chaos yesterday, as armed marines opened fire into a crowd of unarmed civilians protesting UNSC hold over the outer colonies. We have reports of at least seven dead, with no reports of an internal investigation..." Claire Ochoa turned off the view screen and threw the remote onto a couch. The whole argument against the UNSC disgusted her, as did the reverse. Both sides, in her opinion, were wrong.
She sighed and pulled on a pair of combat boots, then strapped on a coat. Grabbing her keys off a door side table, she opened the door and moved into the hall towered the elevator. A man stood there, not even in his thirties. His slick black hair and combat fatigues showed clearly who he worked for.
He smiled as she got closer, "Ha, good to see you dress nicely for work." He eyed her loose fitting combat pants, tight white t-shirt, and torn green jacket.
She smiled back, "Well Elliott, maybe this is more efficient." The elevator doors dinged open and they got in. "So, where we going for breakfast today?"
Elliott shrugged, "I don't know, I was thinking Jim Dandy, but maybe it's time for a change? How about the other diner on the way to the office?"
"Right, like there ever will be another diner. Dandies got the city monopolized. The usual then, to the bar on third?"
"Fine, but I'm not getting the eggs this time, *** things make me sick." They left the elevator and turned, leaving out the front door of the apartment building. The street level bustled with citizens and cars. A yellow beat-up cab sat idling at the curb. Elliott stooped over and opened the door, leading Claire into the vehicle. He then turned and got in himself. Tapping on the panel, he said clearly into the microphone, "The Tainted Eye, please car."
The car ride was uneventful. Claire watched as buildings swept past the window, finally settling on a small building nestled in between two large office complexes. She opened the door and waited on the curb as Elliott paid the car. He jogged over to her and led her through the door. They sat down at a small booth near the back.
"So..." she said, "how's life?"
He grinned, "This again? How about I ask you this time."
She shrugged and smirked back, "I don't know, just wanted to know what my hired babysitter thinks." The company had set her up with Elliott as a bodyguard, on loan from the UNSC. Her work was sensitive, and would be very valuable to some if it ended.
"Come on, is that all that you think of me? Just because I'm UNSC does not mean I hate the insurrectionists. Does that mean I think they should leave? No, but I don't hate them for it."
"Elliott... I... I didn't mean it that way." She stared down at a crack in the table, her face turning red. Their food came and they ate in silence, neither brave enough to say something. The waitress came and cleared the dishes. Claire stared at Elliott, "Look, I'm sorry, I didn't mean..."
"No, I'm the one who should be sorry, I've been on edge since the incident yesterday. I still had some faith in a peaceful resolution, but now... now I don't know." He sighed and stared back at Claire, faking a smile. "You ready to go?"
"Yeah, just give me a second, I want to wash up."
"Alright, don't take too long. Corporal Dawson'll have my rank if I don't get you there on time."
She smiled at him and pushed open the bathroom door. Quickly she washed her hands at the nearest sink, drying them with a fan near the door.
"Ouch," She said as she felt something dig into her leg. She reached into her pants pocket and pulled out a piece of paper wrapped around a ring. The paper read, ‘I know it's not too romantic, but will you marry me?' Elliott's signature was scratched across the bottom. She stood there in a moment of joy and surprise. She didn't notice the man behind her. He slid up and pressed a knife against her throat. She gasped, clenching the man's arm.
"Struggle and I'll make sure you die." He spat, pressing the knife harder. He pushed her out into the service hallway that lead to the kitchen. Slamming against the door, he led her out the back and toward a sedan in front of the bar. She turned as best she could and saw Elliott through the glass.
Elliott jumped up out of his seat, pistol drawn, and moved into the crowed toward the door. She tried to scream, tried to tell him to get away, but she couldn't manage a cry. Fluidly the man drew a small object about the size of a pop can. Emotionlessly he flipped a tab on the top and pressed the exposed button. The building burst into flames, flinging debris into the street. Fire licked the next door buildings, lighting them. She cried and struggled against the man, trying to run back into the bar, back to Elliott. He flung her into the back seat of the sedan where another man promptly applied a small damp cloth to her face. The car started spinning as she blacked out.
I heard the intercom click on and my name called to get suited up and report to pad 4.
After I suited up and stepped onto the pelican I remembered the old times…
It was lonely the last half year sitting there in the office on Tribute…to much *** paper work to deal with.
I would have given anything to be on a pelican like my good old flyboy friend, Max.
I awoke from my day dream when I heard gun shots and the crowd of Protesters run and scream.
Me and Jackie Immediately ran for the security room and pryed the handles open.
On the Main Screen we saw a marine on the floor bleeding, than another.
“God ***” Jackie whispered. “There’s the Shooters!” I yelled, and pointed in unison with a marine outside.
The Marines immediately opened fire in short bursts killing two of the shooters.
One shooter still escaped into the crowd while a marine made a fatal action and opened fire into the Protesters.
“Jackie.” I waited until she turned to me to continue “looks like they need you.”
“You bet!” she said while she trotted out of the building wearing her Medic uniform.
But that was last week…now I was all suited up and on Max’s Pelican and flying out to our ‘Secret’ mission…
“Were coming up on the DZ” Max yelled on the Loud Speakers.
The pelicans Bay Door lifted to reveal an unfriendly neighborhood flying by and a factory come into view.
“I feel sorry for you Foot men” Max Chuckled, “Can it Max!” I responded.
As the Pelican came to a stop a meter off the ground everyone jumped off and the Pelican shifted.
The Pelican Flew off and the 6 Marines took cover behind a Hut.
“Alright Green team here’s the plan…“ I explained.
Chapter 7 by Chuckles
Location Unknown
“Ah son of a…hey, Rick, she’s waking up!” A slow and stupid voice seemed to pierce Claire’s eardrums as her groggy consciousness got used to light and sound. She blinked her eyes, as she blinked, more and more of her surroundings came into vision. She was in a small, concrete, brick room. The only furniture was a metal table with two metal folding chairs. She was sitting in one of them, and across the table, the owner of the voice leaned back in the other, his muddy boots propped up on the table.
Her hands were locked behind her back with steel handcuffs, and her feet were handcuffed to the legs of the chair, simple rope tied her to the chair. But while the rope was simple, the knot she felt on her spine was not.
The man held an MA5B Assault Rifle and there was a small hole in each of the four walls surrounding her, where she was sure the end of a rifle could also fit through if needed. There were two security cameras mounted on the ceiling, one in the corner to her front left, and one to the right of her back.
Behind the man there was a locked door with a key panel lock, it seemed escape was impossible. Seconds later, the door opened and a much smarter man walked through.
“Have a nice sleep?” he mocked, locking the door behind him. By the first sound of his voice, she knew this man, it was the man who abducted her from the diner, and soon after blew it up, whether her “fiancé” was dead or not, she didn’t know.
“Where am I?” She dropped her eyebrows and her lips became very thin. “Why have you taken me?”
“Don’t play dumb with us, girl.” The man took a step forward, revealing a magnum in his left hand, and somehow, this was more intimidating than the Assault Rifle the other man was holding. “We know you are decrypting our code cards for your little pals.”
“Your code cards?” Claire whispered, her mouth gave herself away, making itself into a perfect ‘o’. The man smiled, and raised the magnum to her head, and whispered.
“How are you getting these cards?” He cocked the gun, somehow, she had the feeling he wouldn’t hesitate to shoot her. She didn’t reply…her life wasn’t worth as much as the information. “Very well then.” His finger tensed, it was over.
Then the base rumbled, and a siren whined. The man looked up, as if expecting the ceiling to come down on them.
Claire pushed herself and the chair back by shifting her weight, on the way down, her shins hit the table, sending a wave of pain down her leg. Though it accomplished more than she would’ve imagined.
It hit the butt of the Assault Rifle as well as the face of the first guard, his muscles tightened, making his finger pull the trigger, sending a spray of bullets into both the guard’s private region and the other man’s left shoulder.
As the guard writhed in pain on the floor, the second man dropped the magnum, as both he and Claire scrambled for it, he knocked her aside and aimed the magnum at her.
“You will pay for that.”
“Are you kidding me?” Reynolds shouted as another UNSC soldier was cut down. He, along with nineteen other men had followed the trail of the missing woman, Claire. As they were approaching the underground base, they had been ambushed, the skirmish was short, but it ended with nine of the UNSC men getting killed. Leaving eleven of them to infiltrate a fully protected base.
Now, they were all pinned down at various locations down a long hallway, by an MG turret. Now with the loss of another man, their numbers dwindled to ten. “Does anybody have a grenade?” He breathed a whisper barely audible over the MG gun firing.
“I do,” a whisper came from a box about five feet ahead Reynolds’ cover.
“Then throw it!” Reynolds’ nearly shouted. “You want to wait while more us die?”
Reynolds peered around the corner of his box to see the man rise above cover with an unpinned grenade, he was instantly torn to shreds, with sheer bad luck, a bullet hit the grenade, killing the other two men under the same cover too.
The blast knocked the supply box Reynolds was behind back, and he was nearly crushed by the next box behind him. The MG gunner noticed his flailing arm, and realized that the man was pinned between his cover, and a whole stack of boxes behind him, those wouldn’t budge.
He began firing upon Reynolds’ cover. pushing the box even further back, Reynolds weighed his options. He could try to run for another cover, and most likely be ripped to shreds. Or, he could be crushed between heavy boxes. Neither seemed very enlightening.
Before Reynolds could choose, he heard a loud click and the bullets stopped, elated, he knew what had happened. He steadied his Battle Rifle on the top of the box and fired upon the gunner, as he fell, Reynolds still saw disbelief on his face.
“Come on! Let’s move!” He shouted to the other six marines, who eagerly followed. Reynolds jumped over the MG turret, ahead of him was a fork, one hall went left, and the other right.
He hesitated, he was unsure of where to go.
“We’re splitting up.” He took a deep breath. “You four, go left. Me and you two, we’ll go right. If you find her just radio in.”
“Will do,” one of the marines going with the other group nodded, since Reynolds was not a superior officer in any way, the marine did not give him any extra respect.
Reynolds moved down the hallway, the other two marines were to his immediate rear, both left and right. They were approaching a door with a control panel on in its middle. As they neared the door, the sound of working machines could be heard.
“Great…” he muttered as he examined the panel. Twenty-five keys lined the thing, and getting lucky with a random code wouldn’t work fast enough. “Either of you know how to break codes?” He turned to the other marines. Receiving only shaking heads as an answer.
Out of frustration, Reynolds raised his Battle Rifle and shot the panel. It exploded with sparks and smoke, the door swung open on its own accord. Reynolds raised his eyebrows. He let out a laugh, but it was cut short as he saw what was inside.
Factory belts lined with guns, grenades, everything.
“They’re preparing for full-out war…” he gasped in disbelief.
Private Sam Vendter looked at the bodies of his two comrades, blood stained their chests. He was hiding behind the corner of the hallway where the two now-dead marines had stepped into and been killed. The only other surviving member of the group was on the opposite corner.
From what Sam had seen, there were three enemies, and by the sound of their boots hitting the floor. They were coming closer. He looked at his comrade, nodded, and received a nod back. Both he and his comrade carried a shotgun.
The footsteps grew closer and closer, Sam tensed up. And then, the toe of a boot revealed itself around the corner.
Sam stomped on the boot and twisted around the corner, he shoved the butt of his gun into the first man’s chest, as the man doubled over, Sam pulled knocked the butt on the man’s head, and he had effectively taken out the first hostile.
His comrade came around and fired his shotgun directly into a second hostile’s chest. The third man raised his rifle at Sam, but his comrade fired a second round. Ahead they saw a room, labeled: Prisoner Interrogation.
“What’s your name?” Sam asked.
“Tai,” His comrade replied.
“Well, Tai, thanks. Let’s move, if she’s not in there I’ll give my dinner for the next month.”
“Can’t complain to that.” Tai took off running, Sam close behind.
Claire looked at the pistol in terror. So this is what it’s like to die. She thought, well, it would be soon enough. She let a tear fall down her face.
“Oh, look at the little girl cry.” The man laughed, the guard was dead from blood loss. Heck, if Heidi was a man and shot herself in, her manhood, she wouldn’t want to live either. “It’s a shame, you’re one hot piece of--,”
The door burst open and a muscled man appeared, he quickly observed the scene. As the hostile turned around, the muscled man raised a shotgun and fired into his chest, leaving the pieces of the man on the floor.
“Tai, we’ve got company!” Another voice said, and a somewhat smaller man ran in, Claire heard the sound of bullets being fired.
“Shut the door!” Tai shouted. The man followed orders, then, in horror, Claire looked at the holes in the wall. They had just locked themselves in a deathtrap.
“Hey Reynolds, we found her.” The smaller man said over his radio. “But we’re trapped in.”
Claire noticed a badge on Tai’s shirt, it read: USNC OC.
UNSC Operations Command, Claire knew immediately.
“Tai!” she exclaimed, he looked down at her. “It’s them!”
“Them?” the man asked.
“The RDT!” She nearly shouted.
Epsilon Eridani System
Casbah, Tribute
City Streets
15 September, 2480
Thursday, 1730 Hours
Claire walked slowly down the streets of Casbah, they bustled with life as citizens continued their normal lives. The two marines who found her were flanking left and right. Tai was able to use the holes against the insurrectionists, and they were able to escape the warehouse.
Tai leaned toward her and whispered, “So, what’s an RDT?”
“Shh, not here, it’s not safe here. Where did you set up command?”
“Ma’am?”
She shook her head, “Don’t play stupid, you always set up an HQ before an insertion, where is it?”
Tai looked around, and motioned toward an apartment building at the end of the street. “We’re already being tracked, men with rifles in the buildings adjacent. There shouldn’t be any problems on the way there.”
Claire relaxed a bit. A slight sense of protection fell over her, but it didn’t cover her fears completely. There was still something wrong, some sort of feeling that just felt off. She was being watched. They crossed an intersection, cars flying past at incredible speeds. She tensed, the hairs on the back of her neck stood, sending a cool sensation down her back. Something pressed into her back and she felt someone’s breath on her neck.
“Don’t move,” they said, directed more at the marines. They spun, producing pistols in the action. “She’s coming with me, got it? I don’t think you want anything bad to happen.” Tai stared into the man’s eyes, and nodded.
Claire didn’t understand, but she went along, the man’s actions were not threatening but were calm and well rehearsed. They turned onto a side street, into another housing district. The man led her up some stairs into an abandoned apartment building. He opened one of the doors inside and threw her into the room. She rolled with the fall and recovered quickly. The man came through the door, removing the ski mask from his head.
She froze, staring the man in the eyes, disbelief and joy filled her. It was Elliot, she ran up and embraced him. He held her tightly and led her to a mattress in a dank corner of the room. “I…” she stammered, trying to form words. “I thought you were dead.”
He nodded, “I tried to find you, but the marines got to you first. There’s no safety in the UNSC. You told Tai about the RDT?”
She shook her head, still trying to grasp what was happening. “It wasn’t safe to tell them anything until I knew no one was listening, you know how ONI gets with its projects.”
“It’s an ONI project? What the hell do the URF want with one of their damned projects?”
“Because of what they found. RDT, the Research for the Defense of Tribute. I figured what they were looking for when they asked about the code cards. ONI believes that they cracked the URF code system, but that’s not even close. ONI set up a system, if it receives any kind of activity, it can immediately react to the threat. The system can decode their passwords, key codes, pass codes, et cetera, and sends them to any marines in the area. Those marines then can take down the URF before it is able to mobilize.”
Elliot nodded slowly, and then asked the one question she didn’t want to answer. “How do you know all this?”
She sighed, “Because I invented it.”
Someone knocked on the door. Elliot tensed, reached for a pistol, and moved to the door. He slid a bar and looked trough. Quickly he relaxed and opened the door. Tai walked in and stared hardly at Elliot. “What the hell were you thinking? Marines could have been all over this building before you could blink. It took some work to keep them back.”
Elliot shook his head, “Sorry Tai, the UNSC can’t be trusted any more. I needed to get Claire away from them as quick as…”
“You’re UNSC, you can’t go above the chain of command Elliot, and it’s not as easy as just taking her at gunpoint. There’s going to be consequences to this, and I don’t know if I can keep them off you this time.”
Elliot shrugged, “Then just tell them I was doing my job. I saw danger in taking her to the UNSC, as I diverted the direction of travel and avoided danger. It is as easy as taking her at gunpoint.”
Claire stood, “Will you stop talking about me like I’m not here? We have to figure out what’s wrong. There’s obviously someone on the inside working for the URF, feeding them information. That’s how they figured out about the code cards. They should be our first priority.”
“So,” Tai said, “We just ignore UNSC statute and freelance our way into destroying a terrorist organization from the inside?” Claire nodded. “Well then, didn’t you just say so,” he grumbled, collapsing into a wooden chair.
Elliot smiled, “You know you wanted more action from this job, and when you get it you whine? That’s not the Tai I knew. We have a job to do, and we sure as hell are going to do it. It’s your choice Tai, are you with us?”
“Ha, like I have a choice,” Tai smiled, faking it rather well. “Let’s overthrow a government.”
Chapter (_) Insurgence
Location: UNSC World Tribute *warning planet contested by insurgent forces*
Date: September 15 2480, Time 1200 hours
Helmet cam 2236 Operating
>>Resuming playback
Only a few short hours after landing, me and several other teammates were sent into the city, in civilian clothing might I add to gather intelligence on the local rebel threat. The officers and Private Forester on the other hand were assigned to establish a Headquarters in an old Suitcase Factory.
I fortunately stumbled upon a rebel recruiter in the more active side of town.
The recruiter just finished recruiting for the day and was reviewing his list of signers; most people have become accustomed to the armed rebel recruiters openly enlisting insurgents in public. Sadly I think most people supported them doing it. I found myself talking with the recruiter, any information I could possibly get out of him could save UNSC and civilian lives.
“Listen my Friend, I have no problems with the UNSC but their time has come and gone, this city will soon be a kill zone created by their hands not mine. I simply wish to locate people who can fight back and protect our freedom,” The Recruiter said in a smug accent.
He was sitting across from me at a table with a single clipboard atop it, and a pen sitting nearby tilted to the side.
“But surely a militia could not be as well armed as you say they are, there’s nowhere they could be getting their weaponry,” I responded
“Believe it or not we do have suppliers.”
“Fair enough, I assume there’s some sort of test before one can sign up, for a position that doesn’t involve being use as cannon fodder?”
“Yes actually, follow me.”
The recruiter stood up from the chair and unfolded a pair of sunglasses. He then walked out of the bar door and led me towards a back alley. He walked me over to a makeshift shooting range with a pair of dummy targets with UNSC helmets over where their heads should be.
“You would need to put five out of twelve shots with an M6 pistol on target” The recruiter explained
He revealed a stripped down sightless M6 magnum and aimed it at the targets
“Like so.”
Twelve shots rang out 6 were placed on each target. The target on the left had its helmet blown off from the force of the gun.
“So do you think you’re up to it? We always need fresh soldiers in the fight for justice.”
“Perhaps, Hand me the magnum.”
The recruiter tossed me the hot gun and a clip to reload it with. I reloaded the still smoking weapon catching the smell of gunpowder from the firing chamber. I aimed down the crudely designed iron sights and shot off four rounds into the right target putting a hole in the helmet. Then I fired another eight rounds into the chest of the target trying hitting it slightly left of the center.
The target fell over the wooden beam supporting it snapped from the repeated force of the gun. As it fell it cracked and squeaked until it hit the asphalt under it.
“Ha look at that, you broke my target, I may have some work for you in the future, until then we will be in touch.”
“Fair enough, oh and I didn’t get your name.”
“I’m afraid regulation forbids me to say it my friend, but my operating name is Roe.”
I left the alley and walked down the street back towards a checkpoint. We weren’t allowed to report directly to base after going undercover otherwise the HQ may be compromised; instead we needed to report to a separate building and meet there then move out to HQ under cover of darkness.
Half way back I noticed a disturbance in the street, there was a military warthog overturned and on fire shooting sparks onto the ground and onto UNSC soldiers taking cover behind the wreck. In a damaged hotel across the street a crashed pelican was buried under rubble from the surrounding buildings, corpses were littered around the crash site. Civilians ran by me attempting to escape the combat. They pushed and shoved into each other in a panic. I soon heard gunshots being fired afterwards from the damaged hotel and a nearby building.
A rocket shot out from the hotel and into the overturned warthog and I heard the UNSC survivors scream in pain as the warthog coupled with the explosion ended their lives.
As tempted as I was to Draw my weapon and assist any UNSC survivors, I had to keep my cover. That and the fact that I was prohibited from bringing any weapon heavier than an M7 Submachine gun lest I draw suspicion to myself.
I went back the way I came and found a way around the fray, I was to meet Roe tomorrow, and receive my orders. From the way he saw me shoot I had a bad feeling I would be killing somebody tomorrow.
That Night I couldn’t sleep. The incident in the streets earlier haunted my mind every time I closed my eyes. I didn’t sign up to see civilians being murdered in the streets, heck I’ve heard the reports of bombs going of at clubs and notable scientists being captured and possibly tortured by this rebel scum, and all for an ideal. Then there’s our side where it’s no better. This entire war started because some greedy higher-ups decided it would be fun to start taxing the outer colonies and make some extra cash, and now our ground troops are forced to shoot at crowds of innocents because one rebel “Might” be hiding in the group.
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