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  • Subject: [Novel] Halo 3: Insurrection (Part 49 available!) ~ 20 May
Subject: [Novel] Halo 3: Insurrection (Part 49 available!) ~ 20 May

By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

Posted by: Ringtail11
having never read any of the official books but instead learning about them through you Wolvers, I'm not sure if this is right but in on of the books wasn't Pvt. Jenkins shown to have some control over his body after being infected.

Therefore the flood coul command themselves and have some individuality.


Also Wolvers why are you only a member I thought you were intrepid or something?


Reason Jenkins could still exert a degree of control over his body is because the Infection Form inside him was made extremely weak after many centuries of containment. In the end, Jenkins had no control and was euthanased by Lieutenant McKay... By blowing up a ship.

Oh, and Wolvers is just a member because Bungie don't like him. They say his stories are as crack-potted as Stosh's underwear.

  • 06.02.2010 3:31 AM PDT

The penultimate chapter of Insurrection. One more to go. Thanks for sticking with the story, people. I appreciate it immensely.


Part 51 - Sacrifice

"Here we are," John murmured, extracting himself from the lifeless grasp of a dead elite combat form. The still corpse fell to the ground with a thud, joining nearly twenty of its comrades.

"It's about damn time," Johnson answered, stubbing his cigar on the wall. They looked up at the gigantic door before them, which was all that lay between them and the Gravemind's core. In a last desperate bid, the Mind had set some of its elite soldiers upon them, but they had soon fallen.

"The only thing to do now is open it," the Arbiter input, flexing his aching shoulders. Simultaneously, everyone turned to look at Mendicant Bias, who chuckled softly.

"I will need a few minutes," the golden Monitor replied, before drifting towards the door, placing itself before the holographic panel embedded within it. John nodded quietly, wanting to sit down and catch his breath but knowing it would be dangerous to do so. Everyone but his Spartans did so anyway, gasping for breath. Absently, John did a quick role call.

The two Brutes had been useful, their raw muscle and unique outlook had proven instrumental to success at times. They did however have a tendency to berserk when subjected to arduous and stressful conditions, which made them a little hard to control. Jahl, the cousin of R'tas, had also shown himself to be an admirable fighter, although he didn't speak much. The two Lights of Sangheilios on the other hand never stopped talking, although they were very insular, rarely conversing with anyone albeit themselves. Johnson was also a talkative one, and his Spartan I training and augmentations almost put him on an equal level with the others. His skills as a sharpshooter almost rivalled Linda's. Almost.

His Spartans, Fred, Linda and Kelly had, as always, fought like the killing machines they'd been made into alongside him. And yet still John felt almost detached from them, there no longer existed the bond there once had been. In comparison, John found himself often unconsciously talking with the Arbiter; it was odd, but he almost felt like he connected with the Sangheili better than he did with his own now.

Mendicant Bias had been rather distracted keeping the Gravemind's manipulative will at bay, and so hadn't spoken much.

Cortana, as always, felt as much a part of him as his hand, or gun did. She'd been unable to contact the surface due to the Gravemind blocking the signal, and had almost given up on the task. John could only hope things above were going well.

"I've hacked into the system, Reclaimer," Mendicant Bias suddenly informed him. "I will open the door when everyone is ready."

This is it, John thought grimly. This is where we decide the future of our galaxy. The Spartan stood tall, moving by the door, and facing his tired, weary and yet at the same time determined group.

"The Gravemind is inside that room, soldiers," he told them, feeling a small motivational speech was necessary. "We're in this alone, no-one is coming to help us. You all have to be the very best you can be, and it will be hard. We may all lose our lives here, but I swear that I will not stop breathing until the Gravemind is destroyed. Killing it is the priority. Do not flinch in the gaze of battle, or death. Billions, if not trillions of people are depending on us, and we will not let them down. Are you all with me?"

He received multiple replies of affirmation, and was reassured by this. Everyone was on their feet now, weapons drawn and on the edge, ready to fight. John took a deep breath, and turned to Mendicant Bias.

"Open the door."

The Forerunner AI complied, activating the mechanism which operating the gargantuan door to the Gravemind's core, which slid open with an eerie hiss. John looked through the doorway and baulked.

Thousands of Flood soldiers were inside, facing them. But that wasn't his primary worry. In the centre of the room, on an elevated platform stood--

"A ship," the Arbiter breathed, eyes widening. "Oracle, what is happening?"

The huge Flood ship stood hundreds of metres tall, defying all who gazed upon it.

Mendicant Bias' voice was frantic. "The Gravemind has separated its core from the rest of itself. It's attempting to flee on that vessel. Hurry, I'll slow down the launch as best as I can!"

The strike team stepped into the room, and instantly a loud roar reverberated through the gigantic chamber like sound of howling wind surging through the mouth of a cave.

"Stop them!" the Gravemind roared, the voice clearly originating from within the ship. It was about half a mile away, down a large stretch of land covered by Flood. The legions surged forward, screaming in a feral manner.

"Chief," Linda stated, drawing out her sniper rifle. "You go ahead and get to that ship sir, we'll cover you for as long as we can."

"I won't leave you here," John protested vehemently.

"You must, Spartan," Galenus insisted, handling a heavy Brute shot. "The mission comes first."

"Besides, you're the second fastest of us here after me, Chief," Kelly input. "And that Juggernaut we ran into damaged my leg. You've got to go. We'll follow, and try and keep them at bay."

"I can't leave you. I'm the CO. It should be me who--" John continued to argue, but was suddenly cut off by the thunderous noise of huge engines firing up. The Gravemind's ship was firing up.

"They're right, Chief," Cortana told him. "You've got to go. At the very least, to secure an area for everyone to regroup in. Now move it, Spartan!"

Stealing one last guilty look at the rest of the resolute and determined strike team, John grabbed Mendicant Bias' chassis and ran towards the Gravemind's ship, accompanied by covering fire.

Flood lunged for him, but he dodged with an athletic grace, firing as he did so. He let rounds loose from his rifle, felling a few of the Flood who drew a little too close. Instinctively, he swung out with his left hand as something brushed against it, receiving a complaint from Mendicant Bias, who was effectively turned into a makeshift weapon.

Finally, he slid under the open legs of one of the Flood, rolling on the ground near the ship and drawing out his Symbiosis rifle, the ammunition for which he had been saving. He put the heavy stock in his hands, lined up, and opened fire, the plasma coated bullets impacted into the waves of Flood, keeping them at bay. Then he waited for a few minutes, looking up nervously at the imposing ship.

Suddenly, Fred, Kelly and Johnson broke through the ranks, gasping and letting rounds fly from their own weapons. John waited, but no more appeared.

"Where are the others?" John roared over the cry of the engine.

"The Flood got them. They're dead." John's heart plummeted.

"Linda too?" Thel's dead? he added silently.

"Not yet. The Flood cornered her, but she managed to escape by climbing up a crumbled tower. She can't escape, but she's giving us covering fire. I tried to help her, but there were too many. We've got to leave!" Fred shouted back, motioning up at the ship, which was beginning to fire up its thrusters. The Spartan threw Johnson up onto the ramp of the elongated and triangular ship, and the Sergeant managed to grab hold of the rim, pulling himself up. John turned to face Fred.

"We can't just leave her!" he cried, anguish in his voice.

"Dammit John, she's already dead! We've got to go now; it's what Linda, and everyone else would have wanted!" Kelly screamed back, pointing up at the ship, which was beginning to lift off the ground.

"Listen to him Chief!" Johnson shouted down at them, leaning over the edge of the ship's rim.

Go, Chief. The Gravemind has to be stopped, Cortana told him quietly. I'm sorry.

John didn't trust himself to answer her, and merely nodded at Fred. The other Spartan grabbed his leg and heaved as John jumped, launching him a few more critical metres. John reached out with his hands and grabbed the rim desperately, feeling himself sliding off. Suddenly, he stopped, and looked up to see Johnson grabbing onto him with a strained fervour.

"Dammit Chief, I can't hold you for long! Climb up!" the Sergeant growled at him between cries of pain. John dug his hand deep into the metal hull of the ship, creating a handhold to pull himself up with. He made a herculean effort, and managed to get a secure footing on the ship, which was now beginning to rise. The next one to be thrown up was Kelly, who just about managed to grasp onto John's outstretched arm. John stared down at Fred.

"Jump!" he cried down desperately at his life long friend, who made an attempt to leap for the ship. His hands brushed against John's outstretched ones, and for an elated moment John thought he'd grabbed onto the other Spartan's hand. His hopes were dashed as Fred's hand desperately flailed against John's, before the Spartan fell heavily to the ground. The ship continued to rise even higher despite Mendicant Bias' efforts, dashing all hopes of Fred reaching it.

"It's no good, John!" Fred shouted up at him resolutely. "I'll stay here, and take as many of these bastards with me as I can." John shook his head, turning desperately to Mendicant Bias.

"Can't you help him?" John demanded desperately.

"He's too heavy for me to carry, Reclaimer, and the teleportation grid has been disabled by the Gravemind. I'm sorry."

John turned away from the monitor, tears in his eyes.

  • 06.03.2010 6:33 AM PDT
Subject: [Novel] Halo 3: Insurrection (Part 51 available!) ~ 2 June

Then, another figure crashed through the heavy wall of Flood, who were now beginning to close in on the area the ship had once occupied. A golden flash of armour, and a burning blade of violet.

"Arbiter!" Fred called to the Elite, who picked up on the noise instantly. The Spartan shot a few Flood soldiers behind the Arbiter. "Come towards me, I'll give you a boost!"

The Arbiter nodded, although seemed a little concerned. "What about you?"

Fred shook his head grimly.

"I can't make it, and there's no way in hell you'd be able to throw me up. I can still help you though! What happened to the others?"

The Arbiter hung his head sadly.

"They're dead, Spartan. The Brutes died tackling a Juggernaut, Jahl threw himself on his own sword to stop the parasite infecting him, and Relg and Malkor, they -- they died, saving me. I got careless, a group of Flood overwhelmed me. They helped me escape, but at the cost of their lives. Honour Guards to the end," the Elite answered bitterly, shaking his head.

Fred nodded, shoulders sagging a little.

"It's not your fault, Arbiter. Come on, hurry!"

The Arbiter ran, narrowly avoiding the clutches of the encompassing Flood forces. He charged towards the Spartan, who caught his legs and threw the Sangheili into the air. The Arbiter lunged with his hand for John, who was bent over the edge of the ship. This time, the two hands clasped firmly, and John grunted as he felt the Elite's considerable weight. Closing his eyes, he pulled the Arbiter up, using all his strength. In a few moments the Arbiter stood by him and Sergeant Johnson, grasping the edges of the ship desperately.

"We've got to get inside this ship, Chief!" Johnson told the shell-shocked Spartan, who nodded absently. The Arbiter passed him an energy sword, which he used to cut a hole in the ship's triple layered hull. Sombrely, John stole one last look at his life long friend .

"We'll never forget you, Fred," he shouted down, tears choking his voice. "Your death won't be in vain, I'll make sure of that."

Fred laughed, stabbing two approaching Flood forms in the head.

"Death? Don't you know, John? Spartans never die." Then the Spartan disappeared in a swarm of Flood, and vanished from John's sight. John stood at the precipice of the ship's rim, sighing. Then, depressed, he climbed inside the ship with the Arbiter, Johnson, Kelly and Mendicant Bias.

Kelly was slouched in the corner, being comforted by an uneasy looking Sergeant Johnson. The Arbiter approached John, head hung low.

"Spartan; I am so, so sorry," the Elite told him, placing a hand on his shoulder. John just shrugged him off, breathing deeply. A shield spawned in the area where the hull had been breached.

Only the four of them and Mendicant Bias had made it. Everyone else was dead, or worse. And there were two less Spartans in the galaxy. Gritting his teeth with anger, John drew out his rifle.

"Enough talk. We're going to go kill that bastard."

* * * * * * *

Fred could feel the mass of Flood on top of him, pounding into his energy shields. There was no way in hell he was going down without a fight. He braced himself, tightened the grip he had on his knives, and pushed the assailants of with a cry.

They fell sprawling to the ground, and the Spartan vaulted backwards, stealing a glance at the Gravemind's ship, which suddenly slammed into the roof of the room. The metallic roof buckled as the gigantic, heavy ship crashed through it, reaching for the surface.

Good luck John, Fred projected quietly, before turning his attention to the matter at hand. Dozens of Flood forms had gathered around him in a circle, with thousands more watching with glee. Fred laughed, looking down at his knives and grinning.

"You still there, Linda?" he asked over a secure channel.

"Barely. I see everyone else made it. I guess we're screwed," the Spartan sharpshooter answered from atop her crumbled pillar. A congregation of Flood had gathered at the base of it, and she was busy fighting those who dared to climb it off.

"It looks that way. Well, we might as well go out in a blaze of glory," Fred answered, smiling. Linda chuckled quietly.

"The HAVOK?"

"Hell yeah."

There was silence for a few moments, before she answered firmly.

"Do it. I'll give you covering fire. The Flood will learn that messing with Spartans is a bad idea."

Fred grinned maliciously behind his visor, raising his knives.
"They certainly will. Let's have some fun first, eh?"

"Sounds good. Don't overdo it."

He cut the communication, and shut his eyes for a few moments. He'd led a good life, and a beneficial one too. He'd saved thousands in his time, maybe millions. Fred wasn't afraid of death.

"Now," he spoke to the Flood soldiers, who were leering at him. "I've heard a lot of talk from you guys. You claim to be the perfect organisms and all, but I really don't see it. I mean, look at you. You're falling to pieces, literally. It's quite pathetic, really."

"You taunt that which you will soon become," one of them rumbled, stepping forward. It wore mismatched Elite armour, coupled with a UNSC helmet. Fred turned to it.

"Is that so?" he answered mockingly, systematically driving the heavy hilt of one knife into a Flood Stalker creeping up behind him. "Those are pretty big words coming from an awfully mutilated mouth. I see why the Gravemind kept you all out of sight down here; you're embarrassments. Go on, try me. I dare you."

The Flood form stepped forward angrily, and suddenly found that its head became separated from its torso as a sniper bullet zoomed across the room from atop a pillar, soaring through the Flood's cranium and not stopping. It tumbled to the ground before Fred's feet, who grimaced down at it.

"Well, you didn't last very long. Does anyone else care to try their luck?" he challenged the rest. The Flood soldiers exchanged a glance, and five of them surged forward. Fred leapt into action, engaging them with his long bladed combat knives aggressively, cutting through a maelstrom of flesh and bone, losing himself in the brutal art. Seconds later, they all lay on the ground, shredded to pieces.

"Oh, come on! Is this really the best you've got?"

Three more from the group surged forward, not even reaching him as a round from Linda's sniper rifle felled one, just before another shot fell two others. Fred was thoroughly enjoying himself now, even though he knew it wouldn't last. Eventually, the thousands of Flood soldiers would grow bored of this sport and open fire on him. But he didn't plan to let them do this.

"Now you see, here's the thing," he began, drawing the small HAVOK nuke from a protective cage on his bag. It was completely harmless -- until it was armed. Then it would be turned into one of the most deadly portable nuclear weapons in humanity's disposal. Usually it would level the entire city of Vadam, but this far underground, Fred was pretty sure it would only destroy the Citadel. "I see all of you, facing me all smug and haughty, like you have the upper hand. This amuses me greatly."

As he brought the HAVOK into view, he saw concern and worry crease the faces of the Flood ranks

Curious. The Flood seem to possess two different ownerships. The Gravemind being the more dominant and possessive one, but there seems to be a second as well. Almost a hive mind. And perhaps there is even a third, deeply repressed aspect to them; individuality.

A couple of them stepped forward anxiously, and were suddenly felled by Linda and her ever ready sniper rifle. Fred held up a hand warningly.

"I'd calm down if I were you. If I touch this button like this," he pressed the activation button on the side of the nuke. "And then speak this code," he then recited the security code which would prime the nuke, "then this once harmless hunk of metal becomes a very deadly, dangerous nuclear bomb. And oh dear, it just did didn't it?"

The Flood were wide eyed, aiming their weapons at him. Fred laughed, holding the football sized bomb out at arm's length.

"Steady on," he cautioned seriously. "My vital signs are linked to this bomb. I die, and it detonates. And I think you've assimilated enough people to know what it does. Oh, and incidentally, it's set to go off by itself in five minutes."

The thousands of Flood soldiers stared at him in horror for a few seconds, and then as one, surged forward to the exit of the room, pushing past each other frantically. Fred called after them, laughing maniacally.

"I was joking," he told them. "There's no need for a countdown whatsoever."

They turned to face him as one, staring at him with terror. He nodded.

"Yeah, you're screwed," he told them sincerely, activating the nuke. It pulsated dangerously, turning from green to yellow. When it reached red, it would detonate. The Flood howled with rage, some of them still attempting to flee. Fools.

"Ready, Linda?" he asked his lifelong friend sadly.

"It's a little late for second thoughts now, Fred," she answered dryly. He laughed heartily, before sighing.

"It's been an honour, Linda. To know you as both a soldier, and a friend," he finished, staring up at her on the pillar. She nodded.

"Likewise, Fred. An honour."

The HAVOK bomb turned red. Fred saw the bright light, heard the roaring sound, and then--

Darkness.

[Edited on 06.03.2010 6:37 AM PDT]

  • 06.03.2010 6:34 AM PDT
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Whens the next part coming out i cant wait for it >.< XD

[Edited on 06.03.2010 7:15 AM PDT]

  • 06.03.2010 7:14 AM PDT

Posted by: thefluud83
Whens the next part coming out i cant wait for it >.< XD


In a few days, him and I are on break meaning that he can write to his heart's content.

  • 06.03.2010 9:12 AM PDT

By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

The ending sequence was awesome, Wolvers. Well written fight scene.

Only thing I really had to complain about is the beginning part, it was quite hard to visualise due to a lack of description and the way the supposed deaths were spoken about didn't carry much weight to it.

Other than that, it was brilliant. I look forwards to the end... The final end. ;)

  • 06.03.2010 10:01 AM PDT

-eddy!
huh! What? It was the other guy, honest! ;)
'it was a sniper!' looks down at my sniper
uhh yeah? hes got one too. XD

o brilliant! ive dropped my jaw and cant find the bloody thing!

that was just ...... just ......(hey i found my jaw!) just.....WOW!!!! (sigh)


o yeah on the 'role call' you missed out the arbiter
and wouldnt they take up fireing positions on the edge of the door not just stand around?

[Edited on 06.03.2010 10:38 AM PDT]

  • 06.03.2010 10:33 AM PDT

Yeah, I found writing the beginning part a little difficult, I had a bit of writer's block. I carried on with it and tried to make it as good as I could do. Sorry if I wasn't up to par.

  • 06.03.2010 10:34 AM PDT

i got goosebumps

  • 06.03.2010 1:06 PM PDT
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I love the complainers that complain about the complainers complaining.

Posted by: Matt Eddy
o brilliant! ive dropped my jaw and cant find the bloody thing!

that was just ...... just ......(hey i found my jaw!) just.....WOW!!!! (sigh)


Same

  • 06.03.2010 1:45 PM PDT
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I love the complainers that complain about the complainers complaining.

Posted by: Wolverfrog

"Ready, Linda?" he asked his lifelong friend sadly.

"It's a little late for second thoughts now, Fred," she answered dryly. He laughed heartily, before sighing.

"It's been an honour, Linda. To know you as both a soldier, and a friend," he finished, staring up at her on the pillar. She nodded.

"Likewise, Fred. An honour."

The HAVOK bomb turned red. Fred saw the bright light, heard the roaring sound, and then--

Darkness.


Wow... that was... just incredible.

  • 06.03.2010 1:47 PM PDT

I just jizzed...:L

  • 06.03.2010 3:29 PM PDT

*Facepalm*
and what gun doesn't tear though flesh? a squirt gun?

Forklifts don’t die. They’re just missing in action.

Pooping isn't something I enjoy, nor is it something that takes time. I get in there, drop the packages, then get out. I'm like UPS. What can brown do for you?

you killed two of the spartans i like the most if they are dead i will be mad. if they are not dead i will be happy. that said the story is good.

[Edited on 06.03.2010 4:00 PM PDT]

  • 06.03.2010 3:38 PM PDT

Damn, I was really getting attached to Reig and Malkior :(

Really good chapter though.

  • 06.03.2010 4:35 PM PDT
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Do not waste your tears, I was not born to watch the world grow dim. Life is not measured in years, but by the deeds of men.

Posted by: goldhawk
We should know better, because we are better.

Matyrdom. Works every time.

  • 06.03.2010 5:04 PM PDT

"Find where the liar hides, so that I may place my boot between his gums!" - Rtas 'Vadum

Posted by: Wolverfrog
Thel's dead? he added silently.

That bit hit home for me I think, John doesn't realise what Arby means to him until he's lost him I suppose, well supposedly lost.
And Linda and Fred are actually gone..wow..I now have this feeling that there is going to be a dark and sad ending for the heroes. :(

  • 06.03.2010 7:18 PM PDT

Acta Non Verba

DarkFus10nz

Check out www.nextgenwalkthroughs.com for the ultmate walkthrough experiace!

the ending was awsome

  • 06.04.2010 3:14 AM PDT
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Do not waste your tears, I was not born to watch the world grow dim. Life is not measured in years, but by the deeds of men.

Posted by: goldhawk
We should know better, because we are better.

I liked the part a lot but I felt the deaths a bit sudden and I was expecting main character martyrdom was going to happen as soon as you killed Harper.

  • 06.04.2010 5:11 PM PDT

Posted by: Xd00999
I liked the part a lot but I felt the deaths a bit sudden and I was expecting main character martyrdom was going to happen as soon as you killed Harper.


Like I may have forgotten to say, I had a bit of writer's block regarding this chapter. I'll try and salvage some of it next chapter.

  • 06.04.2010 5:31 PM PDT

By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

When will the next chapter be out? Sunday?

Oh and GTFO and go to bed, it's gone half one in the morning!

  • 06.04.2010 5:35 PM PDT

Yeah, I'll probably write it tomorrow, write the epilogue Sunday morning, and then post them together, like I did with Memoirs of an ODST. I don't think posting an epilogue a few days after the final chapter would be a great idea.

And I am going to sleep in a minute. Why don't you?

  • 06.04.2010 5:55 PM PDT

EXistence PROhibited!
Feel free to join my group, the Vault of Lore

Hey Wolver, do you write your stories on B.net, then copy them to word or something? Because I read Memoirs of an ODST yesterday and noticed that one word you liked to use was constantly "blammed". I couldn't think of which word it is...

You used it when describing armour... I think. It kept saying t-blam!-s What word is meant here?

I saw it somewhere in this story too.

  • 06.05.2010 4:10 AM PDT

By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

Posted by: DataBase90

Where it is written primarily is irrelevant, the profanity filter always does that.

I'd guess you write on Word, Wolvers? I find it the easiest to use.

  • 06.05.2010 5:01 AM PDT

The Razor.

For the honour of the Mirratord.

I to use Word for my writing. The only thing which annoys me is that when I post it to Bungie.net I have to manually add in all the italics etc. That is such a pain!

Hey, Wolvers, hey AJ! :D Wow, long time since I've been to the Gallery.

That last chapter was amazing Wolvers, very emotional. I can't wait for the end.

  • 06.05.2010 2:56 PM PDT

EXistence PROhibited!
Feel free to join my group, the Vault of Lore

Posted by: ajw34307
Posted by: DataBase90

Where it is written primarily is irrelevant, the profanity filter always does that.

I'd guess you write on Word, Wolvers? I find it the easiest to use.
You don't get it. I meant, that when I read the PDF of the other story, there was blam in there. Meaning he'd have to have copied it from B.net... Word doesn't have a blam-filter.

I'd still like to know what this means Wolver:

t-blam!-s

I think you were writing about armour.

  • 06.06.2010 4:11 AM PDT