- soulguard
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- Exalted Mythic Member
Stage 16: Battle Cry
Elite Inner Sanctum
Sacred Hall
15:45 October 25, 2552
Dorenth
Was it the face of a being that was long forgotten, or the face of an unknown species? Too many questions filled Catherine’s head as she gazed at the hologram that loomed above her head. Speechless, silent and unable to respond, no matter how hard she tried to force words to leave her mouth, her breath was taken away by the awe of what she was seeing; awe and fear. Elder Vornaldea was of little support as he also watched the looming image with a gapping mouth.
The face turned its eyes upward and began to speak; “Recalculating for galactic shift.” The base within its voice once again sent a chill down Catherine’s spine. The elite elder struggled to contain his hardened disposition but was failing miserably as he gazed at the towering hologram. It appeared so real and so ferocious that not even his years of combat experience could contain his fear.
The figure continued, “I am establishing connections with Installation 01 through 07, failure to communicate with Installation 04 and 05. The flood have overrun Installation 01 and 06. Reclaimers detected on Installations 01, 02, and 06; other species present as well. Communication received from the Ark, failsafe protocol initiated. All platforms are now in standby status. Unexpected shut down of Installation 05 has occurred prior to Instillation 05’s destruction. Remote activation of all remaining platforms is ready.” The face altered its gaze and once again looked to Catherine and elder Vornaldea.
“Reclaimer, why have the protocols not been executed?”
Catherine’s jaw shook nervously as she tried to speak, “Reclaimer?”
“Yes. Species 011. Reclaimer status; female. Breeding ability has passed do to age. You are not a suitable Reclaimer but none the less you are here. Considering the situation, you should advise the other reclaimers to remote activate the platforms. The flood have escaped and containment protocols must be completed before this Seed Installation can be activated.”
“The flood, the platforms… you’re speaking of Halo.” Catherine thumbed her bottom lip as she pondered what to say. It was only a computer, she told herself, and speaking seemed to calm her nerves somewhat. “Are you a Forerunner.”
“I am the Keeper of this Seed Instillation. A system built in the image of one of the creators within the Forerunner Empire.” The Keeper seemed taken back by the question and looked to the two with a curious gaze.
“Empire?” Vornaldea questioned.
“Yes. The forerunners were a collection of species that spanned the known galaxy. Together, they created the Forerunner Empire. This… should be common knowledge, unless data has been lost.” The face seemed concerned that the two creatures before it were confused about the details of the forerunner history.
“Tell me, keeper. How can we stop the flood?”
“Only by destroying all existing life, with relevant biomass to sustain the flood parasite, any and all other options have been extinguished.”
“The same thing the monitors told me, over and over again, there must be another way.” Catherine growled.
“There are no other options.”
Furious, Catherine shouted, “Why?”
“The flood can not be eliminated, only contained. They were created due to an unexpected incident, and are a virtually indestructible.”
“Correct. The flood were created by you, I know this. But why can’t they be destroyed?”
“All attempts at destroying the flood were useless. The hosts bodies could be terminated but the flood continued to spread. The spores they created changed the worlds. But none of this is important. The Ark database should have given you all the information you needed. Time is crucial. The platforms must be activated… receiving new data recovered from Installation 05 via 343 Guilty Spark. A Reclaimer was the cause of the unexpected shutdown.” The keeper’s puzzled face looked to Catherine waiting for a response.
“John destroyed Halo 04 not 05. I don’t know what you mean.”
“The Reclaimers have violated several containment Protocals, why?” The keeper turned to elder Vornaldea and gazed at him deeply.
“Halo would have destroyed us all.” The elder quickly replied.
“Such is your fate. But if the platforms do not fire, then the seed installations can not be activated. We can not risk the flood spreading beyond this galaxy.”
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Jogrennilee
18:22 October 25, 2552
Dorenth
Eric paced around the camp fire, dwelling on what could be taking Dr. Halsey so long. He folded his arms and gazed at the tram station once again, hoping to see something ascend from below.
“Eric you have got to try this.” Rose muffled as she devoured the oddly colored meat in her hands. “It’s really sweet.” Rose stood from her spot beside the fire and walked closer to Eric. Eric simply looked at her none caringly.
“Not hungry right now, there’s too much on my mind.”
“Like what? Halsey is down there on a computer terminal, how much trouble could she get into?”
“A lot more then you’d think, Warrant.” The large woman walked across the opening of marines and ODST and saluted Eric swiftly.
“Ma’am.” Rose stated as she loosely lifted her right hand to her head.
“The atmosphere is pretty relaxed around here, sergeant. I’ve patrolled all the camps of marines and ODST, they seem to be well adjusted.”
“I run a tight crew, Spartan. But what could Halsey be involved with down there?”
“From what she and I have discovered, the forerunner instruments can be rather aggressive at times. They are quick to kill off anything or anyone that jeopardizes their objectives. If she’s not careful down there, things might get ugly.” Kelly spun on her heels as an elite came running to her side, she pulled up her rifle but before she could take aim Eric had already gripped her barrel, holding it firmly. Kelly was astonished at Eric’s speed and his strength. If she wanted to she could have freed her rifle, but she was none the less surprised.
“Sergeant Raynord, Ship Master Domadree has contacted all ships for an emergency deployment. Simyaldee ordered all ships to report to a planetary defense, because unidentified ships have exited slip space in orbit.”
“How many?” Eric approached the elite and they quickly began to walk toward a phantom just beyond the lights of the numerous campfires, Rose was walking by his side.
“At least forty, last I checked.”
“Spartan, get Dr. Halsey and elder Vornaldea. Let them know what’s going on.”
“Sir.” Kelly quickly stated as she turned toward the tram station.
“Sergeant Raynord. Simyaldee has asked that Sergeant Palab be placed in command of defending Jogrennilee and the high council. He wants you and your human platoon to assist if ground combat is needed.”
Eric froze in his tracks and looked at the young elite, “Ground combat? The elites have hundreds of ships in orbit. There’s no way the brutes will break through.”
The young elite looked puzzled and continued to relay further orders, “He said that you would understand. The ships are covenant, but they are not under brute control. He said it was the flood.”
“Jesus.” Eric felt a swirling gush of emotions consume him. He had only heard about the flood, read about them in Cortana’s reports while he was stationed at the ONI facility, but to face them head to head was not on his list of things to do. He turned and watched as Kelly continued to walk toward the tram, however her pace had quickened. “You copy that, Spartan?”
“Yes sir. They’ll break through and try to get planet side, even if they have to crash here. And call me Kelly.” She reached the top of the Tram platform and was greeted by two honorable elites, after informing them of the situation they all quickly began the long commute to the Inner Sanctum.
“What the hell are they doing here?” Eric asked himself as he and Rose pushed through the unsuspecting crowd of ODST and marines. He soon found himself walking through a large crowd of grunts, all feasting on the remains of the Dabdough. “Why come here?”
“Eric what is the flood?” Rose questioned as she frantically struggled to keep up with Eric’s pace.
“Monsters, real life monsters.” Eric and Rose arrived at Palab’s group as he joyfully mumbled with his kin. “Sergeant, we’ve got incoming hostiles. Simyaldee wants you to lead the city defense preparations. Me and my platoons will assist. Where do you want us?”
“More brutes come?” Palab questioned to Eric as he shuffled to his feet.
“It’s the flood. They’ve taken dozens of covenant ships.”
“Flood! Parasites come here. Must be ships that were not destroyed near Delta Halo. We fight.” Palab looked to his kin and instantly recalled his battle on Delta Halo, the loss of so many of his kin, and how much he wished his older brother, Etah, was here to help him prepare for this battle. But dwelling on the past was not going to help him. Once again his grunts were needed to help protect the Elites home world, but against the flood? How could he organize his grunts to fight those ferocious parasites?
“What know of parasite?” Palab asked Eric.
“They have three forms; combat, infection and pod form. Other then that I’m not sure, I’ve only read brief reports.”
“They fast and strong. One hit can kill you. They hard to kill, need to destroy infection in chest or it not die quickly. City is too open for battle, flood surround us. We not defend city easily.”
“I agree, if those things attack, every dead body will become one. We need to hold them back or force them to charge one section that we can defend.”
“Me prepare troops and call for artillery. You find place to defend.”
[Edited on 8/19/2005]