- soulguard
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- Exalted Mythic Member
Melanie felt reassured that Eric would be alright and then turned her attention to the others, “Elites, do you have any medical knowledge of grunts?” To a degree Melanie already knew the answer.
“No.” One of them simply replied.
“The grunts and marines can’t be too far ahead.” Melanie sighed as she thumbed her communicator channels. There was a lot that needed to be done, but helping the wounded was her first priority. “Private Williams, do you copy?” A burst of static followed.
A buzz filled her ear, “Loud and clear. Did everyone make it?”
“We lost four of our twenty hunters, Eric and Palab our unconscious, but we’re in good shape. We need a marine and grunt medic up here, so hunt one down. But I want you to lead the rest of the Marines and ODST deeper into the tunnel. Station the Shock Troopers at the rear of your lines in case we need additional support.”
“Additional support? That door is sealed isn’t it? That thing can’t get through that.”
“I hope not. But I’m not taking any chances. You have your orders Private.”
“Yes sir.” The channel ended and Melanie turned her attention to securing the tunnel.
“Elites, welcome to the Black Ops, at least for now.” Melanie felt awkward about the statement. She didn’t feel right about welcoming the elites into her squad, but they were willing to follow her orders and help protect Eric. But it seemed too easy for them to volunteer to join up with a squad of humans, and Melanie knew she would have to question their motives at a more reasonable time. “I need you and some of the hunters to double check those doors and make sure their tightly sealed. If you hear anything on the other side, let me know.”
The squad of elites and hunters began to run back to the door, but their squad leader addressed Melanie, “You are separating us from your squad. Is this a prudent action?”
“I won’t be coy with you, I don’t trust you and neither would Eric. If we’re going to work together then I need to know you’ll trust my words as much as you respect Eric’s.”
“Sergeant Raynord has completed the trials, and traditions say that he is a worthy warrior. Not only that, but he has also gained the respect of the High Council. We’ll obey your orders only for the reason that you are his second in command.” The Ranger elite glared at Melanie and began to follow his squad toward the back of the tunnel.
Bad blood was not what Melanie wanted in this team. The elites outnumbered them, and they were Rangers, which put the Black Ops in bad position for the mission ahead.
“Wait.” Melanie stated as she followed the elite. She wanted to apologize, but that would be a sign of weakness. Instead she decided that she had to give the elites a more responsible mission. “By my estimates it’s going to take us seven hours to walk the Inner Sanctum. Can you contact the tram station down there and get us a ride?” It wasn’t the most challenging assignment, but for now it was the best she could do.
“I have already made contact with the Inner Sanctum honor guards. They are sending the tram as we speak. I will now select a unit to remain behind and guard this entrance.”
“Understood, but if something happens they would be cut off from support.”
“If this entrance is breached by that creature, the only thing they would need to do is contact the Inner Sanctum, there by alerting us to the creature’s approach. Their lives do not matter when it concerns the Inner Sanctum.”
- - - - - - -
“Captain, I’ve lost contact with the Black Ops.” Siren stated from her holo-tank. She turned and looked up to Captain Monroe, sitting at her side, and folded her arms in thought. Her illusionary robes floated majestically as her mind raced over the last few events.
“What happened?” Monroe questioned.
“After we lost 159… unknown, at the moment. I am attempting to cycle through the Black Ops recorded chatter.” Siren paused, placing a hand to her head. She couldn’t concentrate because she was worried about Eric. Again her emotions were getting the better of her. She pushed aside her feelings and pulled the data records of the black ops. One by one she began to scan their com logs. “Evac had been initiated on schedule. All Pelican’s reported in. Nothing unusual yet. Got it. What the hell?”
“Siren?” Monroe nervously voiced. Now the entire command crew was eagerly listening.
“It wasn’t the flood that took down 159. It was something else, something big. Eric… 19 canceled the order for the last bird to land and then signaled the retreat. Hunters advanced from the Tram Station to assist.”
“I don’t want a detailed analysis of the situation, Siren. Where are the Black Ops?”
“Underground, I think.” Siren frustratingly replied. She put a hand to her temple, sorting through the data that was flooding into her systems. “The Lotus AT filed was detonated. 19 was wounded… Eric? The others retreated into the tunnel. I lost contact when the doors sealed.”
“How could we have lost contact?”
“I am sure the elites are blocking our channels. Not on purpose, but by default. We were the enemy. I’ll try sniffing out the frequency and make contact…”
“No.” Monroe added firmly. “If this alliance is going to last, we need to trust each other. Contact the Knight and Piercing Arrow and ask ship master Timnaldee for the frequency.”
“Captain, we may not have time to…”
“Contact Timnaldee for the frequency, Siren!” Monroe glared at the tiny figure standing at her side. Unlike Aries, Siren was uncontrollable, loyal, but uncontrollable. Monroe felt odd about yelling at a hologram, but her reactions were too human to tell. Yelling seemed to be the only way to get her point across.
“Ma’am. Opening channel.” Siren replied softly. She was sulking, and everyone knew it. Siren was aware that the possibility of captain Timnaldee rejecting their request was high, and logically it would have been faster and easier to simply crack the channel. The elites were going to protest the stealing of the ship and a battle would be unavoidable. To Siren, asking for permission was not logical.
A video display opened and the image of Timnaldee standing upon the command deck appeared, “Captain Monroe, this is not a good time. Please speak quickly.”
“We lost contact with one of our squads when they went into the tunnel. We ask for the frequency to the Inner Sanctum.”
“I’m sorry, I must first speak with the High Council before passing on such knowledge. But I’m sure you already know the channel frequency. Still, I am pleased you asked. Contact the humans, and only the humans in the tunnels. I will speak with the high council once this situation has passed.”
“Do you need any assistance?”
“I’m afraid there is nothing that can be done.”
An elite roared from the background of the video transmission, “Captain Timnaldee, something is happening around Jogrennilee!”
“Captain I must go. Show me!” The transmission ceased and Monroe peered down her nose at Siren.
“Now, Siren, get me in touch with the Black ops. Helm, put us over Jogrennilee and find out what they saw.”
“The frequency is clear, captain.” Siren smirked. She wanted to contact Eric, but the communication had wasted nearly a minute, and for an AI a minute was an eternity.
The helmsman then turned and looked to Monroe, “Ma’am, you’ve got to see this.” Everyone gazed through the viewing portal and on the horizon of the northern continent all they could see was a thick green and yellow cloud.
“Positioning external cameras and magnifying.” Siren stated as she squinted. “The location is Jogrennilee… but that’s…” Siren suddenly became silent as she opened a view screen and showed the command crew a closer image of the cloud.
“Siren, clarify.” Captain Monroe demanded.
Siren stood silently for a moment and then turned to Monroe, “That is a cloud of flood spores.”
“Flood spores?” Someone from the command crew questioned.
“Yes. According to Cortana, the Monitor on Halo installation 04 stated that the flood can alter a planets atmosphere. Data that Cortana acquired from the Halo installation proved this to be correct. The spores are released by the flood and into the air. But this…” Siren pointed to the video, “… this is not possible. It would take millions of flood infection forms to spread such a high volume of spores.”
“Or, one big flood form.” Monroe stated. “Helm take us over the city, and put us at an altitude of one kilometer. Let’s find out what’s going on down there.” Monroe pressed her command chair communicator and contacted the Black Ops on the frequency that Siren had found. “Monroe to Black Ops, do you copy?”
A static burst fired back with Melanie replying, “Loud and clear ma’am. The operation is still in the dark. We will notify you once we commence.”
“We have another problem, 05. A cloud of green spores is filling the air around Jogrennilee.”
Siren then cut in, “The spores carry the flood infection. Current trade winds on the planet will spread the spores at an alarming rate, roughly two miles every hour. Every dead creature within the area will be infected and reanimated into carrier forms.”
“What is the air quality in your area?” Monroe questioned.
There was a slight pause, “The tunnel is air tight and Oxygen is coming from the Inner Sanctum. We’re fine. I think I know what’s creating that cloud. The reason our plan went to hell was because we were attacked by this giant creature. It released the spores from its mouth.”
Monroe then added, “We are now over the city. Our cameras’ can see the tram station and it’s covered by thick vine branches…” As she watched the monitor one of the ‘branches’ moved and Monroe was forced to take another guess at what her eyes were seeing. “It moved.”