This is a revised version of my discontinued FF Halo: Return of the Fallen. The Story takes place 100 years after the events of Halo 3.
Prologue
If we look back in history, the things that stand out the most are wars. Wars about battles with our brothers, our states, against other countries, and nations. But this is not a story about us humans and their wars against each other, no this is a story that began about a hundred years ago. In the year 2553, Humanity and their new found alliance with the Sangheli had just destroyed the Gravemind and defeated the alien alliance the Covenant. Although the war was over humanity was left with a large task, the reconstruction of the fallen colonies. Once the Arbiter had returned to Sanghelos, he was greeted by Covenant Loyalists who had not followed Truth through the Ark. To make matters worse, in 2581 the URF had taken advantage of the moment of weakness and started attacking UNSC colonization ships.
Although we were allies with the Sangheli, we weren't allies with them. It wouldn't be until 2598, that we realized we weren't strong enough to fight off our enemies. In 2600, a document was signed on earth stating that the alliance between the UNSC and the Sangheli will now be known as the Human Elite Alliance or more commonly known as the HEA. For some reason the Loyalists had fled to an unknown region of the galaxy, almost as if they were ordered back. Now that we were allies, reparations for both species had sped up greatly. We now have ten colonies back up and running, including Mars, my home. The Sangheli also expanded to three other colonies. the planets Sol, Helios and recently Olympia. Since the Covenant Loyalists were out of the picture, that just left the URF to combat.
We already were winning the war, but now in 2654 we have found intel suggesting that one of the URF generals, was operating out of a planet just outside of our solar system. This is what we needed to finally end this petty rebellion. However, I had a strange feeling that a more powerful threat was lurking in the galaxy. Unfortunately, I was right.
Chapter 1
My name is Hunter Ryan. I was born on March 19th, 2631 on the UNSC colony Mars. Life on Mars was ..... challenging. With Mars' fast resources, the colonists were charged with working in the mines, along side the heavy machinery. Dad was at work in the mines all day, Mom on the other hand was a politician. You could imagine how they felt when I said I wanted to join the HEA military. But I didn't just want to be a marine, I wanted to be the best of the best, I wanted to be a Orbital Drop Shock Trooper.
I didn't always want to be in the military. It wasn't until one day during my tenth grade history class that I changed my mind. I started off as a normal day, got a D on a Geometry test and sat next to my best friend. Maria was a friend whom I had known for my entire life, we did everything together. I honestly hated history, however on that day my teacher decide to let us watch a documentary about the Human Covenant War.
I was shocked at what I saw, their was something in green armor destroying the Covenant, the Marines praised him and the alien bastards feared him. I was dumbfounded, he wore armor similar to Spartan III's, but he was much taller and stronger than them. The people were saying how they wouldn't be alive if it weren't for the chief.
After the video was over, I asked my teacher who that man was. She smiled and said
"That man class was known as the Master Chief, the last Spartan and the reason why we are all here today".
" The last Spartan? What about Spartan III's?" I asked
"Not entirely true, Spartan III's are third generation Spartans. The Spartan II's were there predecessors, and in my opinion, their superiors".
"So what happened to the Master Chief?"
"He died in order to save us from the Flood"
It was after that day that I new what I had to do. When I graduated from college, I took a frigate down to Earth and signed up to join the HEA. Of course the training was pretty rough, they had me do drop simulations, countless workouts and a pretty strict diet. It wasn't all bad, I met a new friend. Keno 'Ashasee was a pretty strong Elite, and he was determined to become the best. Turns out he became a Ranger Elite, got a nice jump pack. While I had gotten a shiny ODST armor, with a M7s Caseless Submachine gun.
About three months later, Keno and I were stationed on the new prototype HEA ship known as the New Hope. Interesting feature about this ship, it was made by both Humans and Elites. A powerful ship, it used an arsenal of kinetic and plasma based weaponry. One of a kind, and I was one of the first to go aboard it, was also the only ship with both a Human and Elite crew.
* 5 years later on an unknown planet, on top of the destroyed frigate*
"Seems like you had an interesting experience."
"For the most part. But looking at all this destruction, I wonder if I should have stayed in the mines."
"Well, if both of us had just stayed home, we wouldn't be able to undo the wrong the enemy has done."
"Yeah, your right, how much times left?"
"About 4 hours."
"Good, then I have enough time to finish my story."
Chapter 2
"First day on the job and you're sleeping trooper? GET THE HELL UP!" Shouted Sergeant Coleman.
The alarmed Hunter immediately woke up .
" Sir, have we had enemy contact"
" No, we're over planet Muerte now. Get suited up and meet me by the pods, we're dropping in 20!"
Planet Muerte, as the name suggested, it's a barren waste land with little to no life on the planet. However, recent intel has shown evidence that URF General was operating in a facility on the North side of the planet and the crew of the New Hope wasn't going to let an opportunity like this to happen. Their mission was to disable any planetary defenses, so that the rest of the fleet could enter.
" Hunter, I see you are preparing for the drop as well, I look forward to fighting with you". smiled the Elite
"See you on the battlefield Keno". replied Hunter
*The ships speakers turned on*
"Will Hunter Ryan report to the HEV pods, thank you" announced the ships AI Vivian.
"***, I'm late gotta go bye"
And with that, Hunter sprinted towards the hangar. There he found four ODSTs and an angry Sergeant Coleman. One of the ODSTs took of his helmet and laughed.
"Well aren't you tardy to the party" smirked the ODST
"Jesus give the kid a break, it's his first jump. What's up, the names Andrew. The towering giant over there is Hikaru, the smiling jack ass is Thomas and you already met the Lieutenant."
"Who's that?" asked Hunter pointing at the ODST still wearing a helmet.
"Thats Hawk, just came up here a few days before you. Watch out, she's got a killer shot."
"Enough chit-chatting, get in the pods, we're dropping now".
Once the ship was over the destination, all the pods launched. As they were hurling towards the planet, Hunter pulled up a display chat with Hawk.
"Hi I'm Hunter"
Hawk was on the screen, however she didn't respond to a word he said.
"Good luck getting her to talk, she doesn't talk to anyone." said Andrew
On one of the screens, Coleman appeared and he was not happy.
"You ladies done chatting" boomed Coleman
"Sir yes Sir" they said without even thinking about it.
At the moment the pods landed, the hatches were off and the squads went towards the town. Hunter was looking forward to action since boot camp.
"Hey Newbie, try not too lose your head" laughed Tom
Tom's laughed creaped Hunter out. It sounded like how a demon would laugh, cold and full of evil.
"Ignore him, stay focused on the mission" said Hikaru
Hunter knew he wasn't going to mess this up, he was going to be a hero just like the Chief in those videos he saw ten years ago. The Rebel scum didn't stand a chance. Unfortunately for the squads, the area they had landed by was deserted, and URF forces had moved further up.
"How the hell are we supposed to get there, by walking" shouted Tom
Hawk nudged Hunter and pointed towards a couple of transport hogs.
"I think we're in luck, Hawk found some hogs"
As they had gotten the Warthogs ready, the com channels went off.
"Reach the AA gun and disable it, the rest of the fleet will be to drop off reinforcements." said Vivian with some hesitation.
Hunter caught on to this hesitation and started thinking. Did she know something that they didn't, or did she know what was to come.
Chapter 3
Even though Hunter was worried, nobody else seemed to be concerned about the upcoming suicide mission. A small squad would have to taken on about two hundred. Hunter began considering the fact that he might actually die. Hunter looked up at Anti Air tower, and began shaking. Sergeant Coleman picked up on Hunter's concern.
"Recruit" said Coleman
"Yes Sarge"
"I'm not going to lie to you, this is gonna be tough. The entire HEA is counting on us to disable that gun, you think you can do it?"
Hunter hesitated for a moment. "I'll stay alive or die trying."
"That's what I like to hear." Boomed Coleman
The transport hogs approached the site. The Elites had activated their camo and silently approached the unsuspecting guards. One guard was carelessly smoking a cigarette, not even concerned that something had entered the atmosphere. The other was a little worried, he thought he heard something creeping up to him to him. As the guard turned around, Oboy 'Ergudee, Keno's squad leader had turned off his camo and plunged his blade deep into the heart of the nervous guard. Before the other guard was about to fire at Oboy, suddenly Keno had lifted the guard up into the air and snapped his neck.
*Alarm started going off*
"I hope our comrades had enough time to enter the base" asked Keno
"They should have made it" said one of the Elites
"I doesn't mater now. Now, our adversaries shall taste the burn of my blade!" cried Oboy
The guards charging were no match for the far superior Elites. The barrage of plasma had quickly melted through their weak armor, the number of rebels quickly went from fifty to ten in a matter of seconds. The mutilated bodies on the ground were missing limbs and had plasma burns going through their skins. One rebel who had gained a sudden burst of courage had charged Oboy with a shotgun. The gun was sliced into multiple parts, the guard was sliced in half. Most of the interior organs were sliced with such precision it seemed as if a surgeon had just recently performed surgery.
"All who defy the Alliance shall perish before my blade" roared Oboy.
As the Elites were finishing up with the guards, the ODSTs were rushing up towards the towers control room. Hunter couldn't believe how many stairs there were, why couldn't they have just used the elevator Hunter thought. Andrew seemed to be the least worried, Hunter could see why he was second in command. Andrew was born on Earth in the USA. He had a younger brother named Alex in the UNSC air-force. Andrew had proved himself on the planet Eden, when URF troops intended on activating a Nuclear warhead in the Capital building. Not only did he save all of the hostages, he captured a URF General.
The squad had entered the control room they were greeted by twenty guards. The guards smiled and a man siting in the chair by the computer started clapping. As the chair slowly spun around, the ODSTs were shocked at who they saw.
"Well I had my suspicions that the HEA were going to send troops to investigate the planet, but I must say I am rather insulted that they didn't send Spartans." smiled the General
General Vacas was one of the most feared of the URF Generals, not because of his brutality, but because of his intelligence. It seemed as if he knew everything.
"Well General, you know as well as I do that the Spartans are dead and Spartan III's will be on there way." said Sergeant Coleman
"Are they now, most unfortunate. I would have loved to have ended the life of one of your so called super soldiers."
"What do you mean" questioned Andrew.
"All will be revealed in good time. But it seems that this social gathering must end I'm afraid. Men, end these unfortunate souls." ordered Vacas
Just as Vacas had finished his sentence, Keno's squad had smashed through the glass window. They had used their Jump Packs to ascend just in the nick of time. After the Elites had quickly finished off the guards, the two squads cornered the General.
"No need to use force, I know when I am beat". said Vacas.
Sergeant Coleman turned on his comm link to radio Vivian.
"Vivian, Tower is down. Tell the other ships that we are good to go".
"All right Sergeant, alerted the captains that the skies are clear".
The three other ships had just came out of slip space and commenced the attack on the planet. Two ships were UNSC ships and the other ship was an Elite ship. All four ships had deployed their pelicans and phantoms. It was a beautiful sight to behold. The drop ships brought Wraiths, Scorpions and Hornets and Banshees had flown down. The Elite ship fired it's cleansing beam down on a heavily guarded bunker. The Marines and Elites were making slow but efficient progress into the heart of the fortress.
Hunter began to worry, he remembered Vivian's hesitation. What if the worst is yet to come.
*Onboard the New Hope* Captain Burke began to worry. Vivian began acting a little strangely. When he had asked her what was wrong, she merely gasped.
"They're near."
"Who?"
"The Fallen"
Chapter 4
*Onboard an unknown ship*
"How are the preparations going for the invasion fleet going?"
"Going as planned Sire."
"Excellent, today is the day we make those vermin pay for what they did to us."
"As you command, noble Prophet of Charity".
The Prophet of Charity smiled to himself. Today marks the 100th anniversary of the end of one war, but it also marks the day that an even greater war would begin. He would avenge the old Covenant.
"Brother, you seem happier than usual." said a Prophet arriving through the door
" Ah, Prophet of Delight. Today is the day we take our revenge".
The Prophet of Delight was found in exile on a lone planet. When Charity found him, Delight had made his own personal hover throne equipped with a modified sentinel beam and two powerful Needler turrets. He was more than happy to join Charity in his attempt to destroy the humans and activate the Halo array.
"And activate the array and be with our Gods." Said the other Prophet.
"Prophet of Grace, it is good to see you again". said Delight
"The nearest planet with humans on it is a planet that they call Muerte. We will destroy it and announce our return." said Charity
"Agreed" replied Delight and Grace
"We will reach the planet in 30 minutes" said a nervous Grunt.
Charity smiled, this is the end for the Humans and Elites.
The HEA troops were making a strong push, but the URF were standing their ground. Even though they were constantly being bombed, they weren't giving up. As they were braking they're way towards the center, Hunter could see an alien ship coming out of slip-space. Thinking this ship was a friendly, he just kept on fighting. Unfortunately for the HEA, the ship was the farthest thing from a friendly.
Suddenly a Cleansing Beam had fired down from the heavens. It slaughtered both HEA troops and URF rebels and burning the land. The monitors around the complex turned on.
" Too Humans and Elites alike. WE HAVE RETURNED!"
Everyone gasped at this nightmare, the Covenant had returned.
"We are the will of the Gods and I am their instrument. We will cleanse the universe of your kinds. The destruction of this planet marks the end of everything you know".
The Covenant hordes began charging towards the two fighting armies. Both old and new species were eliminating everything in their paths. It was pure destruction. The HEA soldiers sprinted towards the evac birds. In space it wasn't any better, the three reinforcement ships were destroyed and the New Hope was barely dodging the upcoming fire.
Out of the twenty evac birds that made it to the surface, only five had survived. As the Pelican was ascending into space, Hunter saw what the Prophet meant when he said destruction of this planet. One of the capital ships opened it's front revealing a giant crystal. Once the crystal was launched it pierced the planet surface and a cleansing beam followed directly after it. Once the beam had connected with Crystal, it refracted the beam and spread it into every direction obliterating the planet.
"By the Gods, I have never seen so much destruction." said Oboy.
As the pelicans pulled in the New Hope jumped into slip-space and barely escaped the chasing ships. Hunter could not believe what had happened, the Covenant, the alien race that had almost succeeded in destroying the human race had returned. He was just happy Keno and his squad made it back.
"Maybe I'll feel better with some sleep". thought Hunter.
The HEA officials began to worry, unlike the previous war, the Prophet of Charity had aired his little speech to all of the colonies. They needed some one who could slay thousands of Covenant soldiers single handedly. They needed the Chief. However, the Chief had been dead for a hundred years and the Spartan III's weren't strong enough to take down the Covenant by themselves. It seemed as if the two allies were doomed. Little did they know, that salvation would return to them.
End of Chapter 4
Design a Faction
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