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This topic has moved here: Subject: [Novel] Halo 3: Insurrection (Part 51 available!) ~ 2 June
  • Subject: [Novel] Halo 3: Insurrection (Part 51 available!) ~ 2 June
Subject: [Novel] Halo 3: Insurrection (Part 51 available!) ~ 2 June

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

Posted by: Wolverfrog
I've only just started writing it
Keep up the good work! ;-)

But seriously, I had a broken finger not too long ago and it got pretty frustrating to type with just one hand. I found it best to just leave it when it first started to annoy me. Do not hurry for these... *searches word*... people.

  • 06.13.2010 3:07 PM PDT

This is Wolvers' newest injury

  • 06.17.2010 1:33 PM PDT

Why hello there.

Microwave ovens are quite large.

WORT, WORT,WORT!

-NUMS!

You got the 777th post. This story is now Epic!

  • 06.17.2010 1:39 PM PDT

Okay, I know I promised it would end on Chapter 52, but I've been writing it a while, and this is quickly becoming the longest chapter ever. And I know you all want your next Insurrection fix. So, I've decided to divide it into two chapters, with this one tying up loose ends and the next fully focusing on the epic finale.

By the way, this is the longest part to date. That's why it's divided into five posts.


Part 52 - Aftermath

<Fifteen minutes prior to the HAVOK's activation>

Oh gods, my head, Relg moaned as he pulled himself up from the floor. He rubbed his temple, groaning. What am I doing? Where am I supposed to--

Relg bolted upright, memories flooding back to him in an instant. He looked around, expecting to see a hoard of Flood crowded around him, but noticed that they were some several hundred metres ahead, gathered around something; or someone. Their attention was completely singular; nobody had noticed him.

Tentatively, the Light of Sangheilios stood up, trying to remember more about what had happened. He remembered the Arbiter nearly getting speared by a Flood Juggernaut, remembered him tackling it with Malkor.

Malkor! Relg suddenly cried out silently, looking around with panic. After a few moments, he located his friend, who was lying underneath a dead Flood form, motionless. Relg's heart constricted as he rushed over, shoving the Flood corpse away and checking Malkor's pulse.

There were a few dreadful moments. Then, suddenly, a beat. Followed by another. He was alive! Relg let out a sob of relief, before turning to the matter at hand. He stole another glance up at the Flood congregation in the distance, but their attention was still completely held. The Gravemind's ship seemed to have gone, vanished through a gigantic rupture in the ceiling. He hoped that the Demon and the others had managed to board it, although he knew for a fact that Jahl was dead, and possibly so were the Brutes.

"Malkor," he whispered hoarsely, accentuating his words with a slight shove. No response. Nervously, he checked his friend's pulse again, and was relieved to find it still pounding. "Malkor, wake up," he whispered louder, with a more violent shove. Suddenly, the other Light of Sangheilios stirred, eyes opening slightly. Relg made a silent prayer of thanks to the Forerunners.

"Relg?" Malkor asked weakly, coughing a little louder than Relg would have liked. Anxiously, he put his hand over the other Sangheili's mouth, muffling the sound.

"Not so boisterous my friend. Look ahead," he indicated, pointing at the Flood congress. A few cries of pain seemed to be coming from them. Malkor saw the legions of Flood forms and baulked.

"Gods above," he muttered, rubbing his eyes. "Have they noticed us?"

Relg grinned before answering, "No."

"Should we engage them?" Malkor questioned a little hesitantly. Relg gave him a blank stare.

"My friend, there are thousands of them. Can you stand up?"

Malkor shrugged, and attempted to rise to his feet. After a few aches and groans, he did so, albeit with a hobble. Relg supported him.

Suddenly, a wave of chatter broke out on the secure communications link.

"You still there, Linda?" a male voice asked nervously, with a hint of adrenaline in his voice. Relg and Malkor exchanged a glance. It sounded like the other male Spartan; not the Demon who had destroyed Halo.

"Barely. I see everyone else made it. I guess we're screwed," a female voice replied, which was definitely human. That meant it was one of the female Spartans.

"It looks that way. Well, we might as well go out in a blaze of glory," the male answered with a laugh. Relg and Malkor exchanged a nervous glance, before Relg attempted to patch in to the communications channel. No luck. He looked inquisitively at Malkor, who shook his head. They were listeners only.

"The HAVOK?" the female guessed. Relg felt his heart constrict.

"Malkor? Is not a HAVOK a human nuclear bomb?" he asked his friend in a tiny voice. Malkor nodded with dread.

"Hell yeah."

There were a few horrible moments of silence, before the female replied once gain.

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

The link cut out, and Malkor spoke up.

"I think we should leave, Relg," the Light of Sangheilios began. Relg found himself nodding in agreement, moving towards the exit.

"That sounds like a plan, my friend. The two Demons sound like they are in inextricable positions. Let us move."

The two began to hurry towards the great opening which had led them into the room, moving quickly and efficiently, with clarified grace. They moved past a large pile of Flood bodies, but were stopped in their tracks when they heard a gravelly moan originating from the pile of corpses. Relg looked at Malkor, and the two seemed to be on the same train of thought. Drawing out plasma repeaters, they both approached the bodies nervously, and waited a second. Then they heard the groan once again.

Relg began shifting the bodies, covered by Malkor. He dragged them away, exerting himself, until finally he located the source of the noise.

"Galenus?" he demanded incredulously, working harder to shift the bodies. The Jiralhanae coughed, before nodding feebly.

"Malkor, help me," Relg ordered, grabbing one of Galenus' arms and attempting to pull him out from the heavy mass of corpses. His fellow Light of Sangheilios grabbed the other arm, and together with a combined effort they extracted the Jiralhanae, pulling the large brute to his feet.

"Thank you," Galenus gasped. "I feared I would be left there."

"We can talk as we move," Relg snapped back, jogging towards the exit with Malkor. Galenus blinked for a few seconds, before running after them with long, powerful strides.

"What's wrong?" the Jiralhanae asked them between breaths.

"Two of the Demons survive, but they are trapped. One of them plans to activate a HAVOK bomb," Malkor explained quickly and sharply. There was an audible gasp from Galenus.

"We'll never make it out in time!" he protested. Relg smiled grimly.

"I think the Demons plan to taunt the Flood first. As long as we reach a high enough level, we should escape the actual blast. Then all we have to worry about is--"

"A collapsing building," Galenus finished with a despondent tone. "That's all we have to worry about?"

Relg shrugged, heart pounding. A few minutes later, they reached the exit with some relief. But they were still in danger. And so, despite the protesting of their muscles, the trio moved on, retracing their steps and ascending up the large, spiralling stone staircases.

"What happened to the other Jiralhanae?" Relg asked Galenus, the speech reassuring him that he hadn't died of exhaustion.

"My brother is dead," Galenus replied stiffly, with masked grief in his voice as he ran. "We both charged the Juggernaut, and then Linus pushed me away. He killed it, just before succumbing to a mortal wound. What happened to the others?"

The three reached the ground level, finally breaking free of the underground. Relg felt a heavy weight lift off his chest; the blast would no longer be able to reach them. There was still the danger of the Citadel collapsing though. The main door would no doubt be heavily guarded however. They'd have to ascend a few more levels and escape through a window on the higher tiers.

"Jahl threw himself on his blade when he knew he'd been infected, Forerunners preserve his soul," Malkor began. "As for the rest, we know not. Two of the Spartans are back down below, about to ignite a cleansing flame throughout this Citadel. We can only hope the others made it to the Gravemind's ship."

They passed the first floor, and Relg felt a pang as he remembered many a childhood day spent around this area as he was trained to be a Light of Sangheilios. The Flood had ruined his planet, and for that he hated them.

Without any warning, the communications channel was awash with voices once again. Relg's blood ran cold, and he moved faster.

"Ready, Linda?" the male Demon questioned to who was undoubtedly the female.

"Move!" Relg barked, spotting an open window at the far end of the room they had emerged into. There were only a few Flood soldiers guarding it.

"It's a little late for second thoughts now, Fred," the female Demon, Linda, answered with what sounded like a sigh.

Relg brought his plasma repeater up to eye level and began to open fire on the startled Flood forms, who hastily reached for their own weapons. Malkor and Galenus also opened fire, needler rounds and spikes surging from them respectively. They ran, yearning to reach the window and safety.

"It's been an honour, Linda. To know you as both a soldier, and a friend," the male Demon finished. Relg knew what was coming next. He barged into two of the Flood forms, drawing a few long bladed knives from the sheaths on his thighs, wrestling with them for a few moments. He felt a sharp tendril pierce his shoulder, and retaliated with a swipe of his own, which hit the infection form nestled within the body.

"Likewise, Fred. An honour."

A huge roar of sound boomed from far beneath them, and Relg knew the HAVOK had been activated. Cracks began to appear down the walls, and beams and walls began to collapse. Relg pushed the final Flood form away, and it was crushed by a shattered and falling chandelier.

  • 06.17.2010 5:20 PM PDT

"Everybody out!" Relg commanded, shepherding Malkor and Galenus to the window. Cracks were beginning to line the floor the trio was standing on. Malkor lunged through the window, quickly disappearing from site as gravity took hold of him. Galenus climbed on the ledge, and prepared to jump himself.

Then, the stone flow collapsed, and Relg felt himself fall. Desperately, he groped out with his hand, and managed to grasp something. He looked up, and saw Galenus staring down at him intently, teeth bared as he strained to hold on whilst remaining balanced on the window ledge.

"Hold on to my hand!" the Jiralhanae roared down at him, the muscles in his arm bulging precariously.

"Thanks for the advice!" Relg answered back dryly. The Citadel was collapsing around them, more and more floors caving in and more sections of the ceiling falling.

Galenus gave one last titanic effort, and managed to pull Relg up onto the ledge. The momentum nearly knocked him off, but the Sangheili steadied him.

"You saved me," Relg uttered in surprise. Galenus huffed.

"A hatred of Sangheili isn't necessarily a prerequisite of being a Jiralhanae, I hope you realise. Now come, let's jump before this place completely collapses.

Together, the two launched themselves from the ledge of the Citadel, into the masses below.

* * * * * * * * *

<Five minutes prior to the HAVOK's activation>

"You shall be escorted to a designated area, where you shall be granted a quick and painless assimilation. Resistance shall be met with a sudden and quite painful assimilation," one of the Flood commanders roared as the survivors of the battle were handcuffed, their weapons taken from them.

They'd held out for a while, to their credit. But eventually, the Flood's superior numbers had won. And now everyone would be turned.

The Didact wasn't manacled, and was instead thrown to his knees before an imposingly tall and masked Flood form. It sneered down at him, and the Forerunner knew it had just become imbued with the Gravemind's persona. The Gravemind's possessed form hoisted the Didact into the air with constricting tendrils.

"You see, my ancient foe? Even now, I hasten to another world, to leave this putrid rock. And my fleets shall raze this planet to the ground," the Gravemind gloated arrogantly.

The Didact had been about to reply, when suddenly out of the top of the Citadel, a gigantic ship miles long soared from it, reaching up to the skies. It nearly deafened him. The aesthetics were a combination of Human, Covenant, Forerunner and even Precursor designs; a hideous collage, just like the Gravemind.

"You're fleeing?" the Didact asked impenitently, staring up at the ship as it neared the edge of the atmosphere.

"There is no reason for me to remain whilst you, like ants biting at the ankles, do continue to persist with your petty attempts at stopping my might. Your Master Chief has failed, as has the rest of his team. You have lost, and those you placed your trust in have-- what do you mean?"

"Excuse me?" the Didact asked, bemused by this sudden self-interruption. The Gravemind's gaze grew distance as the Flood form he controlled stooped a little, no longer looking at him.

"They're on the ship?" the Gravemind roared, drowning out the roaring noise of his own ship as it ascended further still. The voice originated not from the Flood form the Didact had been facing, and his voice was tended with fear. "Kill them, or I shall rend the flesh from your bones!

The Didact felt himself break out into a grin. Some of the strike team had managed to board the Gravemind's ship.

"Trouble in paradise, Gravemind?" he questioned coyly. The Flood form he directed his speech to suddenly drew itself up again.

"I have had enough of your insolence, Didact!" it replied angrily, the calm aura usually associated with the Gravemind completely absent. It drew a Covenant energy sword from its side, and activated it, raising it high. "You have lived far too long! The last of the Forerunners dies here, by my hand!"

Fortunately, that was when the Citadel of Vadam exploded.

A huge explosion leapt up behind the Didact, the shockwave sending everybody crashing to the ground. The foundations of the Citadel creaked and twisted, as the huge structure crashed to the ground, flattening nearly half of the Flood army.

The being the Gravemind was possessing also tumbled heavily to the floor, releasing the Didact as it did so. The energy sword in its hand spun through the air, before deftly being caught by the now upright Forerunner. He activated its burning blade, pointing it down at the possessed Flood form, who laid sprawled on its back.

Similar situations rippled throughout the entire army, as soldiers being led by Flood forms were suddenly freed. Many managed to rearm themselves, and kill their would-be-captors. Soon enough, the battle raged on once again.

"Well, wasn't that fortunate?" the Didact breathed heavily, placing his boot heavily on the Flood form's neck. "The tide just turned, Gravemind."

The Flood form chuckled, despite the Forerunner's boot cutting off a lot of its oxygen supply.

"And it shall ebb back towards my favour soon enough, Didact. Enjoy your final moments," the Gravemind replied, and a sudden dulling of the eyes and drooping of the head told the Forerunner that his ultimate enemy was no longer in direct control of the body beneath him.

"What--" the Flood form, no longer repressed by the Gravemind's will, croaked in confusion, before being interrupted by the Didact plunging the energy sword into its chest resolutely. It gargled as blood surged up its throat for a few second, eyes wide as it attempted to remove the sword from its body. All it accomplished was severing its own hands.

It struggled for a few more gory moments, before relaxing, and falling limp to the ground. The Didact removed the sword from its torso, not a moment before another Flood form attempted to attack him from behind. He elbowed it in the face, smiling as he heard the satisfying crunch of bone. Then, with a few deft and elegant movements, he disembowelled the foul beast.

The Citadel had by now completely come crashing down, spewing dust and debris across the entire battlefield. The Didact could hardly see anything, and could only hear the war waging around him. He took a few tentative steps forward.

Suddenly, a small object lunged at him from the ground, impacting him on the chest. Too late did he realise what it was. The infection form plunged a razor sharp tendril through his unshielded armour, burrowing into his flesh with dogged intent. The Didact's strength instantly left him, and he fell to his knees with a strangled gasp, futilely attempting to beat the infection form away.

His efforts were wasted. He gasped in horror as another tendril plunged through his armour, firmly anchoring the infection form to his body. Any moment now it would inject the cells which would turn him into one of them. He could hear the ominous sound of the Gravemind laughing triumphantly in the back of his mind.

And then, in an instant, it was gone. The Didact felt the weight on his torso vanish, sensation and awareness returned to him again.

"Do you think it infected him?" the voice of a Sangheili questioned dimly.

"It's wholly possible, Malkor."

"Do we kill him then?"

The Didact fought to regain control of his body, and sat straight up, eyes opening with shock.

"Wait!" he shouted in protest as a plasma rifle was squarely aimed at him by a tall Sangheili garbed in ornate armour. The other Sangheili held a limp Flood infection form in his hand. Most interestingly, he was stood next to a Jiralhanae, assessing the situation calmly with burly arms folded. "I'm not infected!"

The Sangheili holding the infection form cocked his head suspiciously.

"How can we know that for sure?" The Didact realised from the voice that this was Malkor.

"I suppose you can't. You'll just have to trust me, child," he answered softly, inwardly groaning. Would he really be killed now by a few suspicious Sangheili?

"Well, Relg?" Malkor asked his companion, who was breathing in deeply.

"I don't know. Just tie him up, and move him out of the way until we--"

"Enough!" a voice shouted from over the Didact's shoulder. It took him a few moments to realise who the voice belonged to. Tom moved into view, alongside Lucy. His posture showed he was livid, as did the rifle he aimed squarely at Malkor. "What the hell do you three think you're doing?"

The Jiralhanae then held his hands up, placating.

"Lower your weapon, friend. We came across this man in a dire situation, with one of the parasite infection forms eagerly burrowing into his chest. We destroyed it, yet we are unsure as to the extent of the damage."

"I told them -- I'm not infected," the Didact protested weakly, still a little shaken from his close shave with the infection form. Did these people not have technology which could quickly scan for signs of infection?

"I believe you, Didact," Tom answered, offering him a helping hand. The Forerunner accepted it, and was pulled up to his feet. At the word 'Didact', the two Sangheili and Jiralhanae had exchanged quick and furtive looks. Suddenly, they threw themselves before him, in an act which looked like worship.

  • 06.17.2010 5:21 PM PDT

"Forgive us, holy Forerunner. We did not know," Malkor wailed, sounding distraught.

It's going to take a long time to break these people of this habit, the Didact thought despondently. He looked down at their worship with distaste for a few seconds, before finally not being able to handle it any more.

"Oh, get up," he told them with disgust. "I'm not a God."

"Whatever you say, Lord," Relg replied, rising to his feet with the other two. The Didact shook his head in despair, before turning to face the newly arrived Spartan IIIs. The particles of dust around them were beginning to clear slightly.

"Where are the Flood?" the Forerunner asked in confusion, noticing a lack of battle. Lucy pointed mutely over his shoulder. He turned, to see faint, dark shapes fleeing in the distance. Tom laughed.

"We fought them off," he crowed with success, his words echoing the many soldiers on the battlefield who were cheering and shouting curses at the fleeing Flood soldiers. The Didact shook his head.

"They'll be back," he muttered quietly, almost to himself. "They always come back." He then raised his voice slightly. "Where are the leaders of this army?"

A marine medic treated the wounded heard his words, and looked up.

"They're in the monastery sir, or whatever the building is called," the medic told him. Relg sniffed haughtily.

"Grand Sanctum, human," he corrected in annoyance. The marine just shrugged.

"How should I know what you call your places of worship? Now if you don't mind, I'm busy treating the wounded," he answered in annoyance. The Jiralhanae suddenly stepped forward, his hulking form casting a shadow over the medic.

"If you don't mind, I shall help you. I am well trained as a field medic," the Jiralhanae told the medic, who nodded thankfully. "Thank you for saving my life, Relg and Malkor. I'm sure I shall see you soon."

The two Sangheili nodded modestly.

"And thank you for saving my own, Galenus," Relg answered graciously. "Now, revered one. Do you want me to escort you to the Grand Sanctum?"

The Didact realised the Sangheili was speaking to him, and he nodded.

"I would appreciate that greatly, Relg."

The devastation to the city was immense, and not just because of the Citadel collapsing. Buildings had been ravaged by tanks and ballistic weaponry, the ground was stained with multiple colours of blood. Craters ravaged the city, tearing massive holes in pavements and roads. And the stench of death was especially pungent. Medics were running back and forth, whilst soldiers were tasked with the job of putting down any Flood forms still alive and writhing.

The Citadel was in pieces. A huge wreckage piled up dozens of feet tall, burning intensely. The metre in the Didact's combat skin was warning him of heightened radiation in the vicinity around it.

"Tom, would you please check that the Captain is okay? I'm fairly confident that 343 kept him safe, but it would be nice to know for sure," the Didact asked the Spartan III as they walked through the ruined city, who nodded immediately.

"Sure thing. Lucy, come with me in case something happens," he replied, before darting off quicker than the eye could follow along with the other Spartan III.

"I wonder what happened to the Citadel. Perhaps the Gravemind leaving on his ship collapsed it," the Didact wondered aloud. To his right, Malkor turned to him with surprise.

"Actually, two of the human demons activated some kind of nuclear device," the Sangheili told him. The Forerunner focused on him with surprise.

"How do you know that?"

"We were there," Malkor replied casually, indicating Relg.

"You were?"

"Yes. We only just managed to escape the Citadel before it was felled," Relg answered, seeming eager to please his 'deity.'

"Who made it onto the Gravemind's ship?" the Didact demanded, heart in his throat.

"Few, I am afraid. The Demon, the Arbiter, Mendicant Bias and the human, Sergeant Johnson," Malkor replied. The Didact felt his shoulders sag a little. Only three plus Mendicant? They stood no chance against the Gravemind.

"Which Demon?" he asked next, knowing that many Sangheili and Covenant referred to all Spartans as 'Demons.'

"The Demon. The one who destroyed Halo," Relg told him.

"The Master Chief?"

"I believe so. The rest, unfortunately, perished."

The Didact bowed his head, muttering a small prayer for the dead. He was no longer a religious man; not after what he'd seen the Flood do to his people, but old habits died hard.

"Then we must hope that the three can vanquish the Gravemind," he replied, as they turned another street corner, walking past a large fire. Soldiers were tossing dead Flood bodies into it, attempting to clear the area a little. Many of them seem worried, fearing the Flood would soon come back. The Didact shared their fears.

"I would trust the Arbiter with my life," Relg said proudly, thumping his chest. "The same blood flows through our veins, regardless of how many generations and schisms have diluted it. The Demon is a fearsome warrior who terrifies even I, and no doubt the Gravemind is afraid of him too. As for Johnson, well, he's one of the most vicious non-demonic humans I have ever met. I am sure that together, they shall triumph."

Look at them. Full of optimism, and hope. They don't properly understand what will happen if we feel today. We will be forced to once again activate Halo, and this time, nobody will be safe on the Ark. It will take billions of years for sentient life to return to the galaxy.

"Holy one?" Malkor suddenly asked, sounding tentative. Despite the abhorred honorific phrase the Sangheili termed him with, the Didact faced him with a soft smile.

"Yes, child?" he asked wearily.

"Are you truly the last of the Forerunners?"

The Didact sighed, shaking his head sadly. He'd tried not to think of it, but often the thought of being the last of his people arose, depressing him immensely. He was a fossil; someone who deserved to be in a museum. The survivor of an extinct race.

"I truly do not know. It's possible that some of my people survived, somewhere. If they did, I don't know about them. As far as I know, I am the last."

Relg's eyes widened, frown burrowing deep into his head.

"But, you're immortal. How can your people die?"

The Didact laughed sharply, quickly stripping off the armour on his left arm. A large welt oozing crimson blood streaked down it.

"I am not a God, as I have said. You may find it hard to believe, but it is true. I bleed, I feel, I age, I possess no divine powers. And one day, I too shall die."

"So. . . the Covenant lied about the Forerunners, too? You're not... you didn't--" Malkor whispered, tears in his eyes. Immediately the Didact felt bad about what he had just said. This was their centripetal force in life, and he had dismissed it with a scoff.

"Religion manifests in strange ways, sometimes, my child. Is there some greater being out in the universe? Perhaps. We once worshipped beings like you did, only to find that they were mere mortals like us," the Didact answered, stealing a melancholy glance at a human major barking orders to his troops. "But life does not have to be powerful or divine to be mystical and wondrous. In my eyes, all of you fighting today are as strong as gods."

He turned to the two Sangheili, who had fallen oddly silent.

"I understand you, Didact," Relg told him with a sad tone. "It pains me to admit it, but ever since we discovered the true purpose of Halo, I've had my doubts about your peoples' divinity. You merely solidified those doubts. There will be people who think of you as a God despite what you tell them, however."

"If I die in this battle, I doubt that will happen," the Didact joked morbidly. Suddenly, a looming shadow cast over him, and he looked up to see a majestically grand building standing tall and imposing. Sloping, smooth metals made up the walls of the gargantuan monument, with very little damage incurred to it. The only thing torn from their resting place were the glass windows.

"The Grand Sanctum," Malkor introduced with awe in his voice.

"Who's it built to worship--" the Didact began, before being cut off by Relg and Malkor's heads snapping to face him. "Ah."

"It's one of the oldest buildings in all of beloved Sangheilios. It's heartening to know it still stands, despite the tarnishing of the parasite scum. Come, if that human was right, then the people you seek are inside," Relg elaborated, before marching up to the large front door, secured by a heavy wooden barrier inset into the metal. The door was also protected by an energy barrier in front of it. As they drew closer, they were stopped by two Honour Guards.

"I'm sorry, you are not allowed in here," the one on the right told them. Relg stepped forward self importantly, drawn up and haughty.

"Good day, Veran," he greeted cheerfully. "I see they finally made you an Honour Guard, congratulations. Did my instruction help?"

"Relg!" the Honour Guard on the left replied with enthusiasm and shock. "I thought you were dead!"

  • 06.17.2010 5:22 PM PDT

"I don't have the time to die, Veran," Relg answered dryly. "We need to enter, could you please make an exception? As you can see, we are clearly not infected."

Veran looked sidelong at the other Honour Guard, who shrugged in resignation. After a few moments, Veran nodded, lowering the energy barrier.

"Go along then, I owe you this much Relg. Don't blame me if you get thrown out though," he answered, as Malkor unlatched the heavy wooden door, opening it.

"We won't, Veran. Keep up the good work," Relg answered, slipping inside the Sanctum with Malkor and the Didact. The heavy doors closed behind them with a resounding and deafening thud, making the Didact jump a little.

He looked around at the interior of the building. It all seemed very holy and sacred. The aesthetics were vaguely reminiscent of many Forerunner designs, he noticed with a chill. Blue streaks of light ran down the walls, emulating the power couplings his people had employed. Light grey metal was used, which, whilst not the same alloy as the artificially created almost indestructible one his people had used, was still eerily similar. He almost expected to see Sentinels come flying around a corner.

"Wow," was all he was able to manage, spoken in a monotonous and dumb voice. He ran a hand down the walls fondly. "You really did worship us."

"Yes," was all Malkor could reply in a choked voice. Relg noticed his upset, and deftly changed the subject.

"The main hall is just up ahead. Come."

The three climbed the slight slope leading up to a grand hallway similar to the ones the Didact himself had personally designed. This was just a copy, but real ones were designed to deploy impenetrable energy barriers at the speed of light in the event of an outbreak. He smiled at it.

Soon, they entered the main hall, which was just as grand as anything his people had ever designed. What seemed like an energy walkway bridged the gap between the entrance at the centre, and for a moment the Didact was impressed that the Covenant had devised such technology at such a low tier. Then he noticed that it was merely a glass bridge with light overlain across it. He smiled at its quaintness, before walking over.

In the centre of the room sat a large glass table, the design also clearly Forerunner. Sat at it were several key members of the ground attack, including the human leader, Colonel Miles, and the Covenant Hierarch Daedalus. A Sangheili High Councillor was also seated. The Didact felt it a little wrong that only these three main races were allowed to be represented. For a moment the age old urge he'd had to meddle in others' affairs arose, before being silently quashed.

"Is that you, Didact?" Miles shouted at him from the table in confusion. The other two leaders were also facing him, Relg and Malkor. The Didact removed his helmet, scratching with annoyance at the short white beard which had sprouted over the few days. He'd spent too much of his life and war, and the feel of air against bare skin felt strange to him.

"It is I," he answered curtly, approaching the table. Relg and Malkor had looked at each other, before taking up a post at either side of the light bridge, unconsciously standing like guards. The Didact placed his hands on the table, leaning on it. He noticed with distaste that his arms were completely drenched in a mixture of dry and fresh blood. With a few presses, he started the automatic cleaning process, and tiny nanobots similar in composition to the Huragok deployed from pouches in his arms and began to scrub and cleanse. The Didact noticed the three leaders staring with awe and the process, and realised that they had no technology like that.

This presents a dilemma. Do I teach these people what I know, or do I let them advance by their own merits? Both options have advantages and disadvantages, he thought with absent worry, before banishing it from his mind.

"What are you doing here?" Miles continued, perplexed. Daedalus and the Sangheili Councillor were quiet and subdued around him. "You're supposed to be at Halo. . . the Flood didn't overwhelm you, did they?"

The Didact laughed.

"No, don't worry child. There are no Flood outbreaks at Halo. Not yet, anyway. But it shan't remain like that for long; is Offensive Bias really sided with the Flood?"

The three leaders at the table nodded grimly, shoving some reports towards him. The Didact glanced at them, and was worried. Offensive Bias was using advanced technology against them, very similar to what the Forerunners had once used. There were very few ships, but in this case that didn't matter. It was ironic that the being he had created to vanquish a corrupted AI was now corrupted himself. It was was even more ironic that Mendicant Bias was now on their side.

"This Admiral in charge of the fleet; Cole," the Didact began. "What's he like?"

Miles broke out into a grin, and a slight tinge of awe and fear crossed over Daedalus' and the Councillor's faces.

"He's a legend, Didact. He destroyed over three hundred Covenant ships in the war, with inferior firepower, resources, intelligence, and numbers. A tactical genius. If anyone can pull this off, it's him."

"That's good to know. What are you doing now?"

Daedalus had regained his voice, and leaned forward. He still didn't meet the Didact in the eyes though.

"We have vanquished the parasite, who now flee like Thornbeast in the midst of a hunt," the Jiralhanae Hierarch began gleefully in his rumbling, impossibly deep voice. "We are tending to the wounded, and then we will quickly establish surface based cannons to shoot down Offensive Bias' scows."

The Didact frowned, and looked between the three leaders, who were nodding at Daedalus' words. He began to shake his head in concern.

"No, the Flood haven't been vanquished. They're just regrouping, and recouping their numbers. Keep tending to the wounded, but stop the construction of the cannons. There's time for that later. Right now you need to build fortifications and secure this city," he told them with a sense of urgency, his heart plummeting. He knew all too well the dangers of underestimating the Flood.

Colonel Miles stood up, smiling. He walked over to the Didact, and put a friendly hand on his shoulder with a reassuring expression on his face.

"Didact, I assure you. Not even the Flood would be as foolish as to attack us now. They'd have to be suicidal to even consider--"

Then, with perfect timing, two figures burst through into the hall. The Didact turned around and smiled when he saw Tom and Lucy. His smile faded when he noticed their movements; restricted, constrained, tense.

"What is it?" the Didact asked Tom, concerned etching his already heavily lined brow. Tom stopped before him, gasping; he must have exerted himself considerably. Spartans didn't get tired easily.

"I went to check on the Captain as you asked. Don't worry, he's fine. As Lucy and I were heading out though, we heard something. There's a huge Flood army heading for us, as large as it was before. They're chanting."

"Already?" Miles exploded, flustered. The other two leaders at the table were also stricken. The Didact looked at the human Colonel sideways, giving him an 'I told you so' glance he'd often used with some of his younger subordinates in the Eternal War.

"It's as I said, child. The Flood do not tire. They only push onward," the Didact answered.

"What do we do?" the Councillor wondered, panicky.

"I've had experience with this sort of situation," the Didact answered. "With your permission, I'd like to assume control of our forces."

There were a few moments of silence as the three leaders murmured to each other, discussing what he had proposed. Finally, after what seemed like a lifetime, they turned to face him.

"Permission granted," the trio replied simultaneously.

"Then I'd better hurry," the Didact replied with a thankful nod, before turning sharply on his heel, and jogging back towards the light bridge. As he crossed it, he heard Relg, Malkor, Tom and Lucy follow him.

"You think you can do it?" Tom asked him curiously, sounding doubtful. The Didact shrugged.

"Perhaps. We have the advantage this time around. It won't be the first time I've beaten them when the odds have been stacked against me."

"We'll watch your back," Relg told him softly.

"Thanks. I'll need that before this is over."

  • 06.17.2010 5:23 PM PDT

* * * * * * * * * *

<Twenty minutes before the HAVOK's activation>

Admiral Preston J. Cole paced up and down his observation deck, eyes shut tight and brain overclocking. Offensive Bias' ships were seemingly invincible. Rounds glanced off their shields, and their attacks cut through Cole's ships like scissors through paper. But Cole knew nothing was invincible. Everything had a weakness. Nothing was infallible. And so it must be with Offensive Bias' ships.

They were maintaining a shield strength that just wasn't possible, even with advanced technology like that. Theoretically, no one ship could ever formulate such a powerful and sturdy barrier. Suddenly, Cole paused in his movement, and whirled around to stare out of his observation window again.

"Let loose an ARCHER at one of their ships," he ordered, not taking his eyes of the enemy ships for a fraction of a second, despite the sheer amount of Seraphs, Longswords, Sabres and other space craft flying around attacking the Sentinels.

"Sir?" Ensign Hall questioned with perplexity.

"Just the one, Ensign. Now," Cole repeated the order softly, breathing in deeply and slowly. If he was right, then he might of just found the Achilles Heel of Offensive Bias.

The ARCHER missile fired from the Hastings, like so many others had before. This time though, Cole didn't take his eyes off the ships at all, he didn't even blink. The SHIVA impacted against one of the enemy ships, but Cole wasn't watching that one. Instead, he was glaring at another close to it.

The shields of the attacked shields shimmered, and then--

There!

For the briefest millisecond, the shields of the other ship had shimmered too. Cole wanted to be absolutely sure first.

"Again, Hall," he barked, not even turning around.

"Aye, sir," the Ensign had learnt by now to accept his orders without question. Another ARCHER cut through the black space, spinning until it impacted against the same ship--

There it was again! The other ship's shields shimmered for a millisecond when the ARCHER had smashed into a completely different one.

"One more time, but at a ship on the opposite side of their fleet."

This time, the ship he was watching didn't shimmer. That implied they were in groups. Cole felt like pumping the air. He had them.

"I've found their weakness," he declared with a triumphant smile. Every eye in the room turned to face him with immovable trust and adulation. It never failed to shake him.

"What is it, sir?" a second Lieutenant asked him eagerly. Cole grinned wryly.

"They're linking shields. I don't know how, but somehow they're combining the strength of their shields. In small groups too."

"So that means we should--" one of his Ensigns began, before being interrupted by the Admiral's elation and excitement.

"Concentrate on one group at a time. Broadcast this information to every ship in the fleet; make sure it's secure. I don't want Offensive Bias to know we're onto his trick until we show him."

Five minutes later, every ship under Cole's command was aware of the situation. Now it was time to use the knowledge to their advantage. The Admiral straightened his cap, wiping fresh beads of sweat from his brow.

"Everyone, when I give the order concentrate on the ship I'm highlighting on the battle network. I want every ship in the fleet to concentrate on it," Cole commanded over the fleetcom confidently.

"Cole, this is insane even for you!" Equanimity barked back, his usually reserved disposition vanishing under stress. "Offensive Bias' other ships will have clear shots at us!"

"We're getting slaughtered anyway, you idiot. Comply with my command like you agreed Prophet," Cole snapped back, and was satisfied to see Equanimity flinch on the screen.

"If you're wrong, Cole. I swear to the almighty Forerunners--"

"Just be ready, Prophet."

He waited for a lapse in their attack, and then, taking a sip of water, acted.

"Open fire!"

Suddenly, and almost comically, every ship in Admiral Cole's fleet swivelled, turning to face one very unlucky ship. And then, they opened fire as one. Thousands of projectiles soared through the darkness, impacted against the shields of that one ship. Cole nodded with satisfaction as he saw the shields of other ships shimmer also, much more clearly now.

Seconds passed, and he began to grow worried. A dozen beams of energy were let loose from Offensive Bias' fleet, shearing nearly twenty of Cole's ships in half. Equanimity let out a strangled noise, but still kept concentrating.

"It's not working, Admiral!" Hall shouted, fear in her voice. Cole frowned, nervous. Had he gotten it wrong? What if his theory proved to be incorrect? The lives of everyone in his fleet would be forfeit. Thirty more seconds passed, seventeen more of his ships were lost.

Then, suddenly, there was a blinding flash of light which tore into his eyes. The shields of the ship they'd been concentrating on broke. And it wasn't the only one.

"Sir, I'm reading one ship without-- two, three, no wait-- four-- six-- seven ships! I repeat sir, seven enemy ships are without shields!"

"I was right," Cole uttered with a little gasp of shock.

"Hell yeah you were right! ...sir. What are your orders?"

A malicious glint entered his eye, and for the first time since Offensive Bias had arrived victory seemed once again achievable.

"Wipe them out. Then concentrate on the next group, same as before."

Without shields, the MAC rounds, nuclear missiles and plasma projectiles speared through the ships of Offensive Bias like a hot knife through butter. In less than two minutes, all seven ships without shielding had been wiped out.

"Sir, we've got a new contact approaching from Sangheilios!" an Ensign in charge of navigation uttered with a cry. "She's a big one!"

Cole rushed to the window, and saw a hideous looking wreck of a ship which was three times the size of his own. It was travelling fast.

"I'm getting some chatter sir, from that incoming ship! Patching you through!"

Cole raised his hand to his ear, and prepared to receive the communications.

"Admiral Cole?" a deep voice asked. A rather familiar one. Cole searched his memory for a second, and recognised it.

"Master Chief? What the hell are you doing on that ship?"

"Putting an end to this war. The Gravemind is on board. Do not attempt to destroy this vessel, under any circumstances. Try to delay it from entering slipspace for as long as you can, maybe damage it."

Cole stood still for a few moments, before turning around. His bridge crew were watching him expectably. He frowned.

"You heard the man! Deploy Longsword, Sabres, Seraphs, everything you can to distract that ship for as long as possible!"

"What about Offensive Bias' ships, sir?" Hall asked him.

"Ignore them, they're mostly being blocked by that monster of a ship anyway. I want you to focus everything on that ship; target engines, navigation, slipspace cores, everything! Just make sure you don't destroy it." Cole rubbed his aching temples, glaring at the ship with hatred. "The Gravemind is on board that derelict piece of junk, people. This ends here, now."

  • 06.17.2010 5:23 PM PDT
Subject: [Story] Halo 3: Insurrection (Part 44 is now available!) ~ 06 April
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Excellent!

  • 06.17.2010 5:38 PM PDT
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One day... I am gonna grow wings... A chemical reaction... Hysterical and useless... hystecial and let down and hanging around... crushed like a bug in the ground.

Lawl, awesome but...

eyes bleed... );

  • 06.18.2010 12:34 AM PDT

Supercalifragalisticexpialadocios!

  • 06.18.2010 3:08 AM PDT

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

"No! It only ends with our victory!"

Awesome part, Wolvers. Really well devloped through, the characters responces to each other were of your classic top-notch quality there. I spotted a couple of minor spelling and grammar errors though, nothing too big but a few words seemed out of place.

Otherwise, fantastic. I can't wait for you to finish this, it has been a loooooong time and noew comes to a close.

  • 06.18.2010 8:44 AM PDT

The Hybrid a FanFic by Tehface

"Look for the signs, the keepers of the flame. They will lead you to war, and perhaps, to victory."

Excellent Wolver, excellent.

Just full of all the awesomesauce I've come to expect from your writing.

We'll have to have a party once you've finished Insurrection. With cake.

  • 06.18.2010 11:35 AM PDT
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I love the complainers that complain about the complainers complaining.

What? Only Mendicant Bias, Sergeant Johnson, Master Chief, and the Arbiter made it onto the Gravemind's ship? I thought Kelly made it too. What happened to her?

  • 06.18.2010 12:19 PM PDT

Acta Non Verba

DarkFus10nz

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

^^^ thats true but still AWSOME

  • 06.18.2010 12:51 PM PDT

Posted by: HALOSPECTER144
What? Only Mendicant Bias, Sergeant Johnson, Master Chief, and the Arbiter made it onto the Gravemind's ship? I thought Kelly made it too. What happened to her?


Sorry, that's a mistake. I'll correct it when I have the time.

  • 06.18.2010 1:23 PM PDT

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

I'm not going to bother telling you how awesome that was. Everyone else is doing tat just fine.

How far are you with the REAL end?

  • 06.18.2010 3:30 PM PDT

A few typos I saw, but I've forgotten were they were, too much epicness!

  • 06.18.2010 3:43 PM PDT

Posted by: Dropship dude
No, acnboy. Spartain Ken 15 is a lesser being. Much like the bacteria that lives in your shi­t.
Posted by: mike120593
My shi­t bacteria takes offense to that comparison.

Don't make me lel. You won't like me when I lel.

Woah, that must have taken you a while.

I loved this part so much, the characters are very believable and I was able to picture the entire chapter playing out in my head, very well done. The description of the when the Didact was almost infected, and the two Elite's shock at seeing a Forerunner was great!

Still a few spelling errors in there somewhere, there was an 'and' when there was supposed to be something else, but that's not too important.

  • 06.18.2010 3:51 PM PDT
Subject: [Novel] Halo 3: Insurrection (Part 52 available!) ~ 18 June

That... Was... Awesome! Can't wait for the next part to see how it all ends.

[Edited on 06.18.2010 4:33 PM PDT]

  • 06.18.2010 4:32 PM PDT

Posted by: noes
That... Was... Awesome! Can't wait for the next part to see how it all ends.

QFT

  • 06.19.2010 7:21 AM PDT
Subject: [Novel] Halo 3: Insurrection (Part 51 available!) ~ 2 June

-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

ive gone and read from start to finish all i can say is that im bloody tired as its f****** long
apart from a handfull of spelling mistakes, words in places where they shouyldnt be, this is an amazing story.
each of the characters have been given in depth personalities, most scenes are dexcribed in detail.

the only thing which has not been described in detail is Dr Hasley, 'she went off with the Monitors' im waiting for her to appear and i dont want to be dissapointed

  • 06.25.2010 2:07 AM PDT

took me ages to copy and paste each one of them into word to print off, just for others convinience, could you publish a word doc or something similar with every part, surly you have the amazing work saved

  • 06.26.2010 1:18 AM PDT

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

Posted by: boxburn
took me ages to copy and paste each one of them into word to print off, just for others convinience, could you publish a word doc or something similar with every part, surly you have the amazing work saved
He'll surely make a PDF file when it's complete.

  • 06.26.2010 5:22 AM PDT