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  • Subject: Halo Fanfic: If I were your hero
Subject: Halo Fanfic: If I were your hero
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I am a Sangheili Bard.
Tomes of the History of the Mirratord
For the honor of the Mirratord!

Spartan 104Fred
Your bad from a couple of days ago? What does that mean? If you thought you insulted me, I missed it, and probably didnt care anyway. But this comment caught me off guard. What bad? Where?
~Aardvark

  • 06.06.2007 10:06 PM PDT

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Posted by: Aardvark
What bad? Where?
~Aardvark

LOL I thought that was an inside joke. Fred maybe loosing his mind with all of the energy he is putting into his Thesis. Those things can be detrimental to ones health and mind. haha.

It is Vice Admiral Danforth Whitcomb. And I understand your stress. I've had many friends who have gone through the process... mentally exhausting. Thank gawd I didn't have to do it.

~soulguard

  • 06.07.2007 5:23 AM PDT
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Posted by: Aardvark
Spartan 104Fred
Your bad from a couple of days ago? What does that mean? If you thought you insulted me, I missed it, and probably didnt care anyway. But this comment caught me off guard. What bad? Where?
~Aardvark


The whole jealousy thing about how I tan. I felt like I insulted ya and wanted to say I was sorry. I prefer to see myself as a scholar and a gentleman, not an male private part.


Posted by: soulguard
Posted by: Aardvark
What bad? Where?
~Aardvark

LOL I thought that was an inside joke. Fred maybe loosing his mind with all of the energy he is putting into his Thesis. Those things can be detrimental to ones health and mind. haha.

It is Vice Admiral Danforth Whitcomb. And I understand your stress. I've had many friends who have gone through the process... mentally exhausting. Thank gawd I didn't have to do it.

~soulguard


And I am not even starting the research yet. Just chapters 1 and 3. I got my survey done, now I need to administer the survey. This is my second attempt at the thesis. My first attempt, I passed the class, but didn't write the paper in the allotted year. Now I am doing it again. I have to write the paper, so I am stressed now. Anyways, any update on the next level?

  • 06.07.2007 7:29 AM PDT

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Level 10 is complete. I am giving it my 3rd re-read and edit check. But of course there will be a few grammar mistakes, like 1 or ..... 10.
It will be posted around Noon bungie time today. :D

I think you will enjoy it.
~soulguard

[Edited on 06.07.2007 8:20 AM PDT]

  • 06.07.2007 8:20 AM PDT
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I can't wait. That is only like a couple hrs away. I will have something besides Sodoku and posting to do.

  • 06.07.2007 8:57 AM PDT

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Unless the hounds....

**********************
Level 10: The Prophet of Signs

Mythic Beast \\ Jiralhanae Assault Cruiser
Abu Simbel Crater site
Abu Simbel, Egypt
November 3, 2552

Gridolee leaned into a dark corner, his active camouflage combined with the silhouetted darkness made him invisible to the naked eye. He had just spent the last few minutes tapping into the ship’s COM network, in order to monitor every order that the ship master made, to his relief he also intercepted the Prophet’s communication with another Mirratord elite.

He removed his hand from his ear and exhaled. “It must be Lieutenant Simyaldee. That changes things greatly.” The young Lieutenant was slightly nervous about attacking a full ship of Brutes all on his own, yet now his fear was completely washed away. Simyaldee was also running around the ship, and that was an advantage. He switched channels away from the Brute COM and began to signal the Mirratord private channel. “Second, do you read me?”

“It is good to hear your voice, young one.” Simyaldee replied over the channel.

“It is also good to hear yours, Second.”

“Clear your display recorder, we are on assignment for the duration of this operation.”

Gridolee twisted a small dial on his helmet, deactivating his display recorder. “Your orders, Second.”

“Meeting up is unadvised, my cloaking system is damaged. While the ships combatants chase after me, you get to the command deck and kill the Prophet of Signs. I believe you have a debt to repay him.”

Gridolee’s heart skipped a beat. “Sir, what do you mean?”

“We are the Mirratord, young Gridolee. The Commander and I were aware that Signs infiltrated a spy into our ranks. We’ve been watching you for some time. I believe you had a change of heart around the time the prophets sent the young Watchmen after us.”

“You have known all along? High Elder Vornaldea did not tell you my secret?”

“No. The Elder did not speak to me or the Commander. We have known since the beginning. But now you can prove your loyalty to your kin. Kill Signs, do it now! I have a small platoon of Brutes chasing me toward the turbo shaft in the aft of the ship. I will make as much noise as I can. Signs will never see you coming.”

“I will not fail you, master.”

“You are Mirratord, young one. If I had any doubt in your abilities, you would not be here. When this operation is over, we will have much to discuss. For the Honor of the Mirratord.”

For the last few years, Gridolee never truly understood what the phrase meant. The Honor that the Mirratord had was only amongst themselves, as no other group was aware of their existence, but in the short conversation he instantly began to understand the true meaning of the phrase.

“For the Honor… of the Mirratord.” Gridolee replied. The channel went silent, and Gridolee lowered his head in thought. His secret was not a secret after all. The Commander, even the Second, had known all along. But instead of calling him out, they used him in return. This was his honor, the opportunity to clear his name, to pull himself away from the mistakes of his youth. Signs had used him, convinced him that the Sangheili race was doomed, and lied to him about his own heritage. Gridolee found his purpose for his loyalty, his reason for saying “for the honor of the Mirratord.” He didn’t care what the real reason was anymore, he only knew that it had a personal meaning for him.

Inside the Mirratord, you were no longer a unique individual within the Covenant, you carried the weight of the entire Sangheili race. His actions were not his own, his actions were for his kin, his brothers and sisters at arms. For the honor of the Unwritten Mirratord Law. This was what it meant. This was what the phrase that each of the Mirratord warriors was taught as parting words. It was a reminder of their purpose.

Gridolee scanned the area, and stalked out of the corner. He crept quietly throughout the ship as Brutes passed him by. They often stopped, sniffing the air as if they could smell something different, but the Brutes were unaware of what their noses sensed and their eyes didn’t. To the Brutes, seeing was smelling, but smelling without seeing was totally different. Gridolee made his way to the bridge, uncontested.

Meanwhile, several decks below and at the rear of the ship, Simyaldee became a one Elite army.

A Brute roared, “Cut off his escape path. Seal him on this deck. We will overwhelm this … Sangheili.”

Simyaldee knelt to a knee as he breathed deeply. He fumed at hearing his honorable title being slurred through Jiralhanae teeth. He tossed one of his drained twin blades and watched it self detonate in its plasma discharge. He unclipped his second twin blade and smirked at the energy display; only twenty percent charge remained.

He quickly gathered his stamina and watched as four more Brutes burst into the room. “Stupid.” He chuckled. He tossed one Plasma grenade into the door path and watched it stick to the first Brute that entered. The Brute roared as he attempted to remove the armor where the grenade had stuck him. Simyaldee fired a controlled burst of plasma from a nearby Brute plasma rifle and watched as the other three Brutes took cover behind the first screaming brute. Their aggression was their downfall. The plasma grenade detonated, killing the first two brutes and temporarily confused the last two. Simyaldee sprang forward and beheaded them.

Simyaldee looked out the door at the Brute squad leader. “You are next, cur.” He snarled.

The Brute took aim and fired while retreating from the corridor. “Chieftain, send more troops to the aft decks! My units have all been slain! The creature is a monster!”

“You imbecile, you had twenty men in your ranks!”

“Everything we throw at this Sangheili has failed, Chieftain. Its shields are impenetrable.”

“Two hundred more units are on their way to you. It is impossible to fail with that many troops.”

Simyaldee silently slid his energy sword into the Brute’s skull. The creature never saw him sneak up behind him, and merely whimpered as the sword cut into his brain. The creature felt no pain as it died. Simyaldee took the Brutes COM and examined the channel.

Simyaldee then changed the channel of his COM to match the Brutes. “This mongrel called you a Chieftain. With Tartarus’s death, it would seem that the unified Clan system has been discarded. Is there not one amongst you worthy enough to take the helm as head of all clans, the way Tartarus did?”

The Chieftain laughed over the line. “Tartarus was the last of the great nobles. We no longer have to follow his ways. Our clans have regained their status, and once we have eliminated all of you Sangheili, we will follow the Prophets into the Great Journey. Tell me, beast, who are you?”

“The angel of death.” Simyaldee turned off the Com, picked up several grenades from the fallen Brutes, as well as numerous weapons. It was time to make as much noise as he could. He looked to the end of the corridor as the main bulkhead door parted. Dozens of Brutes exited the door, their armor clinging loudly, as they leveled their weapons and fired.

Simyaldee smiled, his eyes sharpened and his heart quickened. “Blood is in the air.” He leveled the Brute shot and charged into the pack.

Gridolee, on the opposite end of the ship, was reaping the benefits of Simyaldee’s deeds. He had made it all the way to the command deck, yet the door was heavily guarded. He counted thirty Brutes and stop counting; he was sure that there were at least a hundred. If this many sat on this side of the door, then the command deck was most likely swarming with the enemy. He needed to slip inside. He needed for something to happen. But what?

A roar filled the air.

It was a deep sound, filled with the base of something otherworldly. Gridolee knew the sound, and he was not in a good position if it was coming his way. He quickly darted into a corner and hunkered down. He needed to give the beast a clear path; a wide path. The deck rumbled with the creatures footsteps as shouts filled the corridor.

“Be still, beast!” A brute wrangler shouted. “If you get too excited, there will be no meat for you this day.”

Gridolee looked down around the corner, but he could only see the wranglers and the chain that held the creature at bay. The monstrous beast that the wranglers were holding in place was still around the corner. The head wrangler dropped his chain and made his way toward the command deck door. Gridolee heard the monstrous beast whimpering and breathing in the distance.

The head wrangler walked toward the door and was greeted by one of the guard. “Tell the Chieftain that I have brought the Sharquoi. What does he want with it?”

The guard nodded and the door began to part. The Chieftain stepped out into the foyer of the command deck and sniffed the air, his nostrils burned from the strong smell of the massive beast. “Where is it?”

“Down the hall, Chieftain.”

“Its stench fills the corridor.” The Chieftain looked about and motioned toward the wrangler. “This Sangheili has killed nearly two platoons, and I have lost contact with the last group we sent down. This can not be the work of one. It is impossible.”

“We brought the Sharquoi in order to deal with the demon.” The wrangler added. “The human’s ‘Master Chief’, has done this form of boarding attempts in the past. Perhaps this will be a good test of the Sharquoi’s strength.”

“Perhaps. But we are not dealing with the Demon this time. Deploy the Sharquoi at the end of the deck near the main lift. It is the only way to get to this deck. The Sangheili is not trying to hide he is making it very clear of his objective. When he comes, unleash the Sharquoi.”


[Edited on 06.07.2007 5:01 PM PDT]

  • 06.07.2007 11:11 AM PDT

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“As you command, Chieftain.” The wrangler turned and walked back to the group of wranglers and pulled the massive Sharquoi further away from the command deck door.

The Chieftain turned and slowly walked back onto the deck. “Seal the door.” The door closed behind him as he motioned through the crowd of Brute guards. He climbed the command podium and looked to the Prophet of Signs. “This… Mirratord that you fear so much will not come any further.”

“Until I see its dead corpse, I will not agree with your certainty.” Signs shouted from his corner. Four guards encircled him, while his back to a bulkhead. He frantically rubbed his hands together, nervously drying the sweat that dripped from his pores.

“If he comes upon this deck, he will face the Sharquoi, and then the added firepower of nearly one hundred of my best troops, and then he will face me. And I cower before no Sangheili. He is skilled, but he is not immortal.”
Signs chuckled. “A bold statement, Chieftain. But you have no idea of what the Mirratord are capable of. One Mirratord warrior has been known to make an entire heretic battalion vanish from existence.”

“What is this, Mirratord?” The Chieftain questioned. “I have not heard of them.”

“The Sangheili created them during the time of the great union, when the Jiralhanae were first brought into the Covenant. A secret force of highly trained killers. If you fear the human’s Master Chief, then you should very well fear the Mirratord. Many of my brothers have been slain by their hands. And the Sangheili council always finds a way to cover it up. They work in the dark, secretly, and they only kill those that have made it publicly known that they are against the Sangheili way of life.”

The Chieftain looked across the room at the Prophet, as he nervously fidgeted in his floating thrown. “Nonsense. You speak of things that are impossible. It is no more then a combination of legend and rumor.”

“Yet here we are, Chieftain. Locked away hopping that the full compliment of my Cruiser can slow down this… legend.” The Prophet seemed irritated that the Chieftain did not believe him. “When his blade sits at your throat, you will believe me then.”

The Brute snarled and glared at the Prophet from high atop his podium. “I only believe that a skilled opponent has come. Mirratord or not, no one creature can possibly fight its way through my entire ….” The Brutes eyes grew twice as large as he watched a single forged blade of energy appear behind the Prophet.

He was speechless.

“Chieftain, what is it?” Sign’s nervously questioned. He watched as the Chieftain gripped his gravity hammer and jump down toward him. “What is the matter?”

The Chieftain screamed to his command crew. “To arms!” Signs sat motionless as the single blade slowly crossed his vision and rested a few inches from his throat.

Gridolee exhaled. “It is been a long time, Signs.”

Sweating and trembling, Signs pushed his head backwards, trying desperately to keep the blade away from him, but he suddenly recognized the voice. “Gridolee, is that you?”

Gridolee snarled. “Would you rather I call you your holiness, or mentor? Perhaps teacher would be better suited to your ears?”

Signs exhaled heavily. “Thank the Gods it is you. I feared the worse.” Signs raised his hand toward the Chieftain as he and his Brutes stalked closer. “Be at ease, Chieftain, he will not harm me.”

Gridolee tilted his head in confusion. “I do not share your confidence. I do believe I am going to kill you. And then kill the rest of these Brutes.”

“Gridolee, I have no intention of letting you talk this way. Thanks to you, we have a better understanding of the Sangheili’s betrayal.”

“Silence!” Gridolee yelled as he pressed his blade closer to the Prophet’s neck. “Do not speak our sacred name, Prophet! Are you under the suspicion that I am here to rejoin you? I betrayed my race, my kin, my honor, all because of your lies. And then… my academy brothers and sisters, they turned against us. My Watchmen class turned against the Elders and attempted to kill them. You said the Unggoy’s would be a sign of weakness, but they have brought us more strength. That an Unggoy with the rank of a Sangheili would be a sign of damnation! Palab is the noblest of warriors I have seen, and he fights with honor! Because of your lies, your treachery, I have lost so much. ”

“Gridolee listen to me.” Signs stuttered. “You have always been my favorite, when I heard that your ship left Earth, I grew weary. I have always wondered where you were!”

“There were Jiralhanae troops on board our ship!” Gridolee roared. “We were caught of guard and imprisoned. If you cared so much you should have sent word or a warning to me.” Gridolee looked up and noticed the Brutes were still inching closer. “But none of that matters now. Now, you will pay for your dead of crossing the Unwritten Mirratord Law.”

“What is this law?” Signs nervously questioned.

Gridolee raised his lower mandibles and formed a smile. “To do evil to the Sangheili way of life and traditions… is to die by Sangheili hands. I found my honor; the meaning of the Mirratord parting Phrase.” Gridolee deactivated his active camouflage and glared into the Chieftain’s eyes. “Uphold the Honor of the Sangheili way of life. Protect the safety of our future and life. Remember the unwritten law and never forget its purpose.

“For the Honor of the Sangheili way of life.” Red blood began to trickle from Signs throat as Gridolee pressed his blade deeper into his skin.

“For the Honor of the unwritten law!” Gridolee pressed it deeper into the Prophets neck. The smell of burning flesh and blood swarmed into his nostrils as Signs began to gag. The frail Prophet gripped Gridolee’s arm, but he could not pull the Sangheili away. Signs’ screams were only heard by deaf ears.

“For this honor I spill the blood of all those who threaten my kin, my brothers, and my way of life!” Gridolee glared into the eyes of the Brute Chieftain as he swiped his blade through the Prophet of Sign’s throat, severing his head. He palmed Signs’ head and held it up for all the Brutes to see.

“For the Honor of the Mirratord!” Gridolee roared as he snarled at the Brute Chieftain.

The Chieftain fumed and huffed. His fur began to stand on end as his anger grew. His posture became more threatening as he palmed his hammer in both hands. The familiar sound of twisting leather cried out as the Brute squeezed the hilt of his hammer and snarled. Drool crept through his monstrous teeth as he snarled and raised his hammer over his head.

“Face me Sangheili!” He screamed. “I have dreamt of facing a warrior of your skill! Bleed before me as I make you beg for you life!”

Gridolee dropped the Prophet’s head, pulled up his second twin blade and jumped forward; off of the hover chair and into the pack of Brutes.

Gridolee smiled, his eyes sharpened and his heart quickened. He was a Mirratord.

The Chieftain lowered his hammer as a wave of gravity pulsed from the end. Gridolee crossed his blades, and blocked the blast, but he was propelled backwards. He tumbled in the air and planted his foot into the face of a Brute, stabbed another and rolled across the floor. Plasma rained from every direction, slowly depleting his enhanced shields. He attacked the first Brute in his eyesight and used his body as a shield. Gridolee sprinted around the room, making himself a harder target to hit. He jumped up to the command Podium as two brute shot grenades impacted him. The pressure from the explosions made him stumble but he quickly focused and tossed a plasma grenade. The Brute dodged the grenade and rolled off of the podium.

Gridolee was all alone on the Command Podium as hundreds of Brutes and Grunts circled below. Getting into the Command Deck was easy when the Chieftain opened the door, but getting out was not going as simplistic. Fifteen Brutes charged up the ramp, Gridolee tossed all of his plasma grenades toward them, and they exploded in a chain reaction. Eight of the Brutes died in the charge, while the remaining numbers fired blindly through the mist of brute blood. Gridolee ran toward the ramp, stabbed, chopped and gutted the last of the Brutes, and backed away from the edge. He knelt low on one knee, regained his strength and awaited the next assault. Grenades of various kinds sat at his side from the fallen Brutes; including weapons. Gridolee examined his dual swords; thirty and forty-five percent charge remained. He would have to fight on the fly, grabbing weapons as he went.

Gridolee’s shields sparked as needler rounds pinged against him. He rolled further into the center of the podium so that the grunts could not get a good target lock with the homing weapons.

“Is that the best you can do, Chieftain?” Gridolee shouted. “Letting your Unggoy take shots at me from the distance?” Gridolee’s eyes widened as ten blue flares arced upward into the lofted ceilings. The Grunts had calculated his position when he shouted. A stupid error he should not have made. Gridolee’s arrogance had once again slipped out and caused him trouble. The grenades landed around him, he had no means of escape. He hunkered down and roared in pain as the blast pressure tossed him around the podium.

  • 06.07.2007 11:13 AM PDT

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Cheers came from the Grunts and Brutes as they watched the explosion, yet there excitement ended when Gridolee stood, bloody but alive, and began to throw numerous grenades back at them. The number of troops loitering around the floor made it impossible to take cover. Bodies flew in all directions as the grenades exploded. Brutes and Grunts shouted in pain as waves of them died. Their numbers had been severely cut in half by a few dozen plasma and spike grenades.

The Chieftain pushed through the crowd toward the helm. “Move the ship toward the human camp at best speed. Then deploy or first garrison. If we loose the ship to the Sangheili, at least my ground forces will have deployed.”

“Yes Chieftain.” The helmsman snarled.

The COM officer snapped back. “Sir, the guards outside are signaling that they are being attacked!”

“What?” The Chieftain roared.

“There is another Sangheili, it is fighting the Sharquoi. There must be two of them!”

“Two… then this one must have snuck in when I opened the door.” The chieftain snarled at his own laps in judgment. In close quarters there was no way to fight these ‘Mirratord’ Sangheilis, but at least he could begin his attack on the human base. “Helm, set a collision course for the human base. Notify all hands to abandon ship. Things will change once we get some dirt under our feet. Even with my last three thousand troops, we can overwhelm the human defenses.”

Outside the door, the Brutes listened as the Sharquoi unleashed a blood curling roar. The creature was still out of sight, somewhere near the main deck lift further down the corridor and around a corner. Suddenly there was a loud thud as the Sharquoi crumbled to the ground. The Brutes all stepped back in shock. The creature that took years to tame, had been killed. A Sharquoi was known to go into fits of rage, unleashing its anger upon dozens of wranglers. It would take dozens of heavily armed warriors to stop the beast. But a single Elite had just slain one. A single warrior had killed a Sharquoi.

Simyaldee staggered around the corner, holding his side as blood dripped from his jaw, helmet and shoulder. The Sharquoi was a worthy opponent, and wounded him severally, but he had lived through worse. His shoulder was dislocated, several bones had been broken, and his vision was blurry from sweat and blood. Simyaldee’s shields flashed as they recharged and he looked up to the Brute forces standing near the command deck door. He had hopped that Gridolee had made it this far, but there was no longer any time to wait, Simyaldee had to come to the Command deck. He grunted as he knelt down and picked up a discarded carbine, but only ten rounds remained in the ammo pod.

The ship wide COM echoed to life. “All hands abandon ship! I repeat. All Hands abandon ship! Ground forces deploy level one infiltration gear. All Seraph and Banshee squadrons deploy immediately. Foot soldiers, rendezvous at grid Alpha One. Ramming speed is set. Abandon ship!”

The door to the Command deck parted and Brutes and Grunts poured out in a frantic wave. They scattered in all directions, each heading toward escape pods and insertion pods. Simyaldee was amazed when several Brutes ran passed him, giving him a wide birth. A few of them attempted to fire at him, but Simyaldee fired his recovered carbine rifle before they could take aim. The warrior within Simyaldee wanted to stop them from escaping, but he was exhausted. The fight with the Sharquoi had taxed any remaining energy he had; barely able to hold up the covenant carbine. After the deck Cleared, Simyaldee made his way to the command door and watched as Gridolee embedded the blade of his Brute shot into the chest of Brute.

The Chieftain turned from the helm and climbed the Podium ramp and swung his mighty hammer, knocking Gridolee off his feet, but he recovered and charged before the Brute could swing again. Gridolee locked the Brute shot blade between the Chieftain’s arms and twisted, slicing off one of the Brutes hands. The Chieftain roared, not in pain but in defeat, as he stumbled backwards.

“What… are you?” The Brute cried. He stood and stampeded toward Gridolee, his bloody stump swinging madly at Gridolee. Gridolee raised his Brute shot and dropped the blade into the Chieftain’s shoulder. Armor, skin, muscle and bone shattered in its path. He pressed the heavy, dulled blade, deeper into the Chieftain until it wouldn’t go any further. The Chieftain gasped his last ounce of air, falling backward into a pool of Brute blood.

Simyaldee slowly walked up the ramp, holding his wounded side as he examined the room. “I see you killed the Prophet.” He was amazed at the site. Fragments of Brutes, puddles of blood, and Grunt bodies were everywhere.

“Yes sir, as were your orders.” Gridolee chuckled as he slumped forward. In the moment he relaxed, he began to feel every wound. His chest, back, head, arms, legs, everything hurt. Blood dripped through his mandibles as well as pooled under his armor. His wounds were extensive, but as were Simyaldee’s.

“Stand, young one. I have not given you permission to die.” Simyaldee ordered as he approached the Helm controls.

“Yes… sir.” Gridolee moaned as he stood. He held his side and approached the station, whipping his bloody mandibles upon the back of his hands. “Second… your injuries…”

Simyaldee hovered over the controls. “I am not dead yet. The Jiralhanae have locked the heading toward the Human camp. I can not change course.”

“Escape pods have launched, as well as insertion pods. Full evacuation.”

“COM status?”

Gridolee examined the COM station. “Active.”

“Open a channel to the Sergeant.” Simyaldee ordered.

- - - - - - -

Mid Egypt \\ Camp Eden Second line Defense Zone
November 3, 2552

“I repeat. This is Sergeant Eric Raynord out of Camp Charley. Eden, do you copy?” The roar of the Pelican whirled around Eric as he stood over the pilot and copilot’s shoulders. He gazed forward at the expanding desert terrain as he waited for a response.

“We read you loud and clear, Sergeant. We have you’re ground troops on Route 117, heading north at sixty-five mph. Your distance to the Second line of defense is twenty-two miles. We are tracking your Pelican at an altitude of one-hundred fifteen feet.” Eric’s COM was received and his ground troops had been spotted. At least now the Camp Eden Defense Zone was aware that they were coming.

“I’m requesting additional troops to form up with the remainder of Charley Company; call sign Red Squad. Ten grunts if you can spare them.”

“Negative, Red Squad. We can not spare any troops at this time. Stand by for Major Rawlings.”

“The Major?” Eric questioned to himself. “What the hell does she want now?”

“ Sergeant Raynord, I believe your troops were given a direct order. Were they not?”

“I don’t copy ma’am.”

“Section III gave official orders to both Melanie Peters and Mathew Collins. You were order to extract Spartan 087.”

“We were in a heavy combat situation at Abu Simbel, ma’am. The safety of Camp Eden is our utmost priority. Spartan 087 has chosen to remain in combat. Most likely we should …”

“I don’t care about the situation, Raynord! An order was given and once again you have proven your inability to follow them. You and your Black Ops will resume ONI classification; your Red Squad cover is hereby dropped. Now, bring me Spartan 087.”

“Permission to speak freely, ma’am?”

“If you insult my decision, Raynord…” The deep growl in her voice was cut only by Eric’s ability to speak over her.

“You can not pull the best strategic option we have away from combat. ONI has pulled a lot of stupid decisions in these last few weeks, ma’am, but this one is insane. We need her in combat.”

“What do you think I am trying to do, Raynord? The sooner she arrives, the faster we can get her back into combat. I do not have to explain my actions to you!”

“Every second counts, Major. But I fear you have a personal agenda in this.”


[Edited on 06.07.2007 11:15 AM PDT]

  • 06.07.2007 11:14 AM PDT

TWP - Assistant Director
Blade Runner: #00124A
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“My order will be obeyed. Be thankful that I anticipated your disapproval. If you survive the coming battle, I fully intend to unleash every available resource against you and the Black Ops, but for now you will simply have to defend this Zone without Spartan 087.”

“Major, I understand your position, but she has decided to fight.”

“She is a soldier, just like you. And she can not make decisions on her own.”

The radar began to beep on the Pelican’s control board. The copilot flipped the switch and examined it. “Sir, inbound Pelican. Unmarked.”

Eric looked out into the distance. “Major! What in the hell are you doing? Think of the lives you are putting at risk!”

“If I don’t do this, we will all die.”

Eric switched channels. “Kelly, do you copy? Spartan 087, respond!”

The copilot looked over his shoulder. “Feedback static; the channels are being jammed, sir.”

“-blam!-! Get us down there!”

Below Eric’s Pelican, an unsuspecting Spartan sat upon the side of a scorpion battle tank. Her mind focused only on how to arrange her troops in order to defend against the Brute’s that would eventually make their way toward them. She looked over her shoulder toward the trailing line of vehicles and soldiers. Warthogs, scorpions, ghosts, and wraiths, Humans, Grunts and Elites, all followed in a slow line of firepower heading toward the secondary line of defenses. The wastelands flanking the procession stretched for miles and only the hills added any verity to the scenery. But the mind numbing rumble of the tank treads and engines quickly faded as a dust storm kicked up from the turbines of an approaching Pelican.

Kelly looked upward as the bird soared ahead of her tank and began to settle on the road. She tapped the scorpion’s canopy and the marine driver came to a stop. Kelly held up her fist for the trailing vehicles to also cease forward progress.

The Pelican landed on the road with its rear ramp in clear view. The ramp lowered and two figures stood side by side in the belly of the bird. Kelly zoomed in and quickly noticed that the smaller figure was Roselyn Santos.

“What’s going on?” Kelly mumbled as she stepped down from the tank. She quickly walked toward the bird as the larger figure beside Rose stepped forward. This figure was an unknown. He or she was wearing a new form of battle armor that Kelly had never seen before, and it stood an impressive six-foot-nine inches tall. The unknown figure pulled up a side arm and left it at its side. It was a non-threatening gesture, but clearly a sign of aggression. Kelly replied by doing the same. She quickly pulled up her Magnum, and let it hang in her hand at her side. Her thumb gently flicked off the safety.

“Chief Petty Officer Spartan 087, you have your orders. Board this ship, now.” It was a line of sight transmission, directly into Kelly’s helmet COM. No one else heard it. The voice was light, and young; clearly female.

“Who are you and what are you doing with Rose?”

“Private Santos is needed for the purpose of the MJOLNIR VII project at the Ark crater site. And so are you. Please board the bird now, ma’am.”

“New armor at the Ark site?” Kelly questioned in thought. Though tempted to see what new tools she could acquire Kelly knew that she was needed here. “Can’t this wait?”

“No ma’am. Every minute is precious.”

Rose spoke and began to move toward the end of the ramp, the Spartan III did not attempt to stop her. “Kelly. I need you. You have to come with me.”

“I guess the Major got to you. We need to fight this war, we …” Kelly spoke through her external speaker.

Rose cut in. “A war we can not win. Not unless we find a technological advantage. Truth has the Ark, and soon he will learn how to fire it. I resisted at first, but once the Major informed me of the plan I quickly began to understand.” Rose was sincere. She was pleading for Kelly to come with her. “Help me finish the Armor. I’m so close to unlocking it… but I need you. With this Armor we can stop Truth.”

Kelly lowered her head in thought, but slowly raised her weapon and aimed outward, toward her right side. With her arm stretched out at shoulder level, she turned her head and glared into the silhouetted image of a human figure. The figure began to reappear, a cloaking technology, and the figure was in similar armor as the woman on the Pelican. This one, however, stood poised with an Assault Rifle aimed at Kelly.

“Your cloaking system is impressive, but I heard every footstep you made.” Kelly coldly stated.

The Spartan III on the pelican stepped forward and placed her gun to Rose’s head. “Drop your weapon and board the pelican. We do need Santos, but I have been authorized to use lethal persuasion if necessary.”

Another Pelican dusted off on the side of the road and two soldiers sprinted outward. Both were dressed in the all black ODST fatigues of the Black Ops, but neither wore a helmet. Eric and Melanie sprinted toward Kelly and leveled their BR-55 battle rifles. They quickly took aim on the unknown figures.

“Rose?” Eric whispered.

“Drop the weapon!” Melanie shouted toward the Spartan at Kelly’s side. The Spartan III did not reply. His finger stayed ready on the trigger. “Now, damn it!”

“You heard the lady, drop it!” Eric added. “Everybody calm down!”

On their private channel, Kate spoke to her three teammates. “009, we can’t win a shootout against the Black Ops and Spartan 087. Back off.”

Greg sighed over the com. “Roger that, 017.” Greg lowered his Assault rifle and began to move slowly toward the pelican. However, Kelly never let her side arm’s site leave him.

Kate added into the line. “Team, prepare for back up plan.” She then spoke to Rose. “It’s up to you now.” Kate pulled down her side arm and slipped it back into its holster.

Kelly finally relaxed. “If you prove to be a threat to this defense operation, I will eliminate that threat.”

Rose walked toward Kelly and placed a hand on her shoulder. “I hope you understand, this Kelly. The Prophets have taken control of the Earth. I’m sorry. We, humanity, don’t have a choice anymore.”

Rose slid her hand down Kelly’s armor to a location just above her chest plate. Kelly instantly noticed the action and what Rose was moving her hand towards. She began to pull away, but found that her armor was now moving at only a quarter of its normal power output. She focused on her settings, checking everything with her mind. A display popped up on her HUD, showing that her power output was being reduced. Suddenly blue sparks began to scatter around her as Kelly’s suit began to lose reserve power. A blue orb was held in Rose’s opposite hand and she dropped it onto the concrete road. The orb began to hum loudly and engulfed Rose and Kelly. Kelly’s HUD flickered with static and misaligned images.

With a flick of her wrist, Rose terminated the main power cell on the MJOLNIR armor and Kelly’s HUD went to normal optics. She could only see what was in front of her. Her radar, ammo gauge, shield monitor, and active readings had been switched off. The Incredible weight of the MARK VI bore down on her, but she could still move. She struggled and maintained her footing as she fought to hold her balance without power.

Rose leaned down and picked up the shiny blue orb and turned it off. She then looked to Eric as he sat motionlessly staring at her. “A Power Drainer; another new toy from my friends in R and D.”

With split second actions the Spartan III that was stepping away, quickly gripped Kelly under his arm and guided her sluggishly toward the Pelican. Kelly attempted to push him away, but the SPI armor was able to hold her steady with little effort. Kelly then tried to power on her suit, but Greg locked her hands in place before she could power on the main systems.

“Sorry, Ma’am.” Greg stated to Kelly. “Our armor isn’t at strong as yours, but without power you can’t resist me.”

Rose turned toward the Pelican and followed the Spartan’s. “They need me Eric, and I need Kelly. I can’t explain it right now, but I have no choice but to go with them.”

Melanie began to motion toward the pelican, an act to stop this obvious kidnapping, but Eric grabbed her arm and held her at bay.

Rose smiled toward Eric as the pelican’s ramp began to Rise. “Keep fighting and don’t die. Give me the time I need to finish this. I need you to do that for me, Eric. Protect the Tree of Life.” The ramp sealed and Rose pocketed the Power Drainer. She then turned to Kelly and removed her helmet as Greg sat her on the bench. Without power, the Mark VI would only hold oxygen for a few minutes.

“I know you’re upset, but you have to understand…” Rose pulled the helmet from Kelly’s head and glared into the eyes of someone who was struggling to fight back her rage. Every muscle in Kelly’s jaw flexed as she contained her anger. Rose had the suspicious feeling that if her side arm holster was working, Kelly would have shot her. “You have to forgive me, Kelly. You don’t understand the big picture.” The engines of the Pelican hummed louder as they took off, away from the road and Camp Eden.

“I understand it far more then you do, Santos!” Kelly snapped. “You are sacrificing the lives of nearly every man woman and child that is hiding beneath Camp Eden, just so you can work on an upgrade.”

  • 06.07.2007 11:16 AM PDT

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“You are a Reclaimer, and only a Reclaimer can access the sub-systems of the Reclaimer armor.” Rose snapped in return. “The Major debriefed me on your importance a few moments ago. Once you access the suit’s sub systems I will find what I need to give the new suit a substantial boost in output. The Reclaimer armor is too old and degraded to be used, but I took a spare Mark VI and a few SPI armor parts and began working on the Mark VII. All I need is a substantial amount of data to help improve it. Please, Kelly. I need you.”

“I don’t have much of a choice.” Kelly snarled.

Back at the road, everyone stood in shock. The marine in the front tank lifted the canopy and glared out at the Sergeant. “Sir, was Spartan 087 just kidnapped by our own forces?”

Eric turned and looked at the troops that were sitting and watching. Several warthogs had pulled up to the front and all of their eyes were fixed on Eric. “This changes nothing. We will still deploy into a defensive front and stop the Brute assault.”

“But sir, this is insane! Stupid Brutes are attacking from behind, and our forces are screwing us in the front. What the hell is going on?”

“Fall back in line. I didn’t say you could -blam!-.” Eric looked around, turning his back to the marines. Melanie joined him and they began to talk privately.

“Damn Spartan IIIs.” Melanie sighed. “I wonder how long they’ve been on Earth? This is some seriously deep -blam!-.”

“No kidding.” Eric sighed as he dried a bead of sweat. “We pull up to that second line, and those marines just might have the order to shoot at us. I can’t believe this is happening? Plus, Major Rawlings just cleared our activation. We are officially Black Ops again.”

“So do I call you Senior Chief, or are you still a First Sergeant?” Melanie sighed. “This whole ONI and Marine fiasco is really pissing me off.”

“Being covert is part of the duty. Let’s keep our Marine cover going for now.”

“Doesn’t the Major know that be activating our Black Ops classifications, she in fact allowing us to use our ONI clearance?”

“She does.” Eric folded his arms in thought. “I’ll be damn. She’s smart, very smart. I don’t think I could have thought of it if you hadn’t mentioned that.”

“What?” Melanie questioned.

“We have our ONI clearance, which means we can practically do whatever we want to do.”

“But how does that help the Major... wait, she was bluffing?”

“Camp Eden gave our direction position to that Pelican that just landed. Those Spartan IIIs took Rose and Kelly to the Ark site. But Truth has control of the Ark site.”

“Someone is trying to pull the wool over someone else’s eyes.” Melanie thought aloud. “We can radio Admiral Hood. He’s gone to bat for us in the past. Maybe he has more info.”

“I tried to talk to Hood before I left Camp Eden to join up with you guys. The Brute’s are jamming every channel. We don’t even know if Cairo station is still up there.”

“That’s probably why the Major feels that she can get away with this -blam!-.” Melanie spat into the sand. “There’s no way Admiral Hood would allow this. She’s mixing spook tactics with covert operations. Who is she tying to fool?”

“She’s trying to fool the only creature who would be listening to everything that is going on in this region of the world; Truth. She made a big scene, causes some confusion and then gave us our ONI clearance. Then Rose…”

“Oh boy…” Melanie huffed at Rose’s name.

“Rose told us about the Tree of Life.” Eric continued.

“She gave us our clearance so that we could get into the Box?”

“It’s all I’ve got.” Eric shrugged.

“Sir!” A marine shouted. Eric and Melanie turned around as the massive Brute ship rolled over ahead. The ground rumbled as everyone instinctively ducked, but the ship was several hundred feet in the air. Dust was flung around from the wake of the ship’s speed and Eric raced to the nearest hog.

“Can you reach Camp Eden?”

“No Sir, they’ve gone silent.” The female Marine added as she examined the COM.

Eric sighed. “They raised the shield grid. No COM when the power is being used for defense.” A ghost quickly sped toward the group and Palab jumped out.

“Sergeant, me hear from Simyaldee.” Palab shouted in excitement. “He on ship, he alive with Gridolee. They take over ship but Brutes lock heading. Can’t change course! Brutes leave ship.”

“I’ll be damn.” Eric switched on his COM. “08, get to the front of the pack. Lead the ground troops toward Camp Eden.” Eric and Melanie ran toward the Pelican, Palab galloped behind. “Be cautious of Brute ground forces in the area. And try to make contact with Simyaldee and Gridolee!”

“Roger that… wait, Simyaldee’s alive?”Mathew replied back.

“You damn right he is.” Eric cursed as he climbed into the Pelican. “05, Palab and I will race ahead with the pelican to assist the second line. Meet us there when you can.” Eric killed the COM.

Palab waddled to the front of the Pelican as it began to take off. “What we do now?”

“We protect the Tree of Life.”

To be continued….
***************************
Notes: Building up nicely toward a major standing point. More covert interactions to keep the 'conspiracy' theories flamed. As always, comment, critique, criticize, cry, throw things in protest of cliffhangers... you know the deal, all are welcome. But no flames or spam. You get banned for those things.

~soulguard

  • 06.07.2007 11:19 AM PDT
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Posted by: soulguard
Dozens of Sangheili exited the door, their armor clinging loudly, as their leveled their weapons and fired.


I think you have the wrong name there. Another great chapter. I really like the part about Gridolee and his finding the true meaning of "For the Honor of the Mirratord."

  • 06.07.2007 1:05 PM PDT
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Great level. I like how Gridolyee matured as a character. And finally at that. I mean it only took a couple of hundreds of pages for him to grow up and realize who he is and why he was selected. The first part, you need to change Simyaldee to Gridolyee. I will get the quote in my edit.

Posted by: Soulguard
“We are the Mirratord, young Simyaldee. The Commander and I were aware that Signs infiltrated a spy into our ranks. We’ve been watching you for some time. I believe you had a change of heart around the time the prophets sent the young Watchmen after us.”


Check the bold. I have to reread the chapter when I am not at work and too busy to remember the beginning. That was the most glaring thing I saw.

[Edited on 06.07.2007 1:21 PM PDT]

  • 06.07.2007 1:20 PM PDT

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Noted: Thanks for the check. Much obliged.

~soulguard

  • 06.07.2007 1:32 PM PDT
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Soul --

Did you get that Private Message.

I don't think I said this on the first post, but that Chapter was freakin' unbelievable. I had never been much of a fan of Gridolyee, but wow, I am envious of him. I hope that Simyaldee and Gridolyee make it through and are able to join back up with Eric, Palab, and the others.

And screw, Major Rawlings and Santos, though I know they did it for a reason, but this will -prediction- push the human forces further and further back until there back is against the wall.

  • 06.07.2007 1:39 PM PDT

Phoenix is dead, long live Phoenix!
Is it?

“The angel of death.” Simyaldee turned off the Com, picked up several grenades from the fallen Brutes, as well as numerous weapons. It was time to make as much noise as he could. He looked to the end of the corridor as the main bulkhead door parted. Dozens of Sangheili exited the door, their armor clinging loudly, as their leveled their weapons and fired.

Gridolee, on the opposite end of the ship, was reaping the benefits of Simyaldee’s deeds. He had made it all the way to the command deck, yet the door was heavily guarded. He counted thirty Brutes and stop counting; he was sure that there were at least a hundred. If this many sat on this side of the door, then the command deck was most likely swarming with the enemy. He needed to slip inside. He needed for something to happen. But what?

Two errors, your getting better.

Awsome chapter, I loved it, seemed as though you were back in the flow of things, and lots of Mirratord Madness, real writing gems in there. I didn't hate Rawlings that much, she gave Black-Ops there clearance, now they can do all this new stuff.

The Sharquoi, I hated that part, here I am thinking you will describe the Sharquoi, but no, we just hear the battle, arg!

I like how you are winding this story with Halo 3, all this "don't know if Cairo is even up there" stuff, c'est tres bien.

When is chapter 11? Or is it too early to ask? Because I really want to see what happens to the Sangheili Queen.

Kudos to this chapter.

Phoenixian

  • 06.07.2007 2:34 PM PDT
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Posted by: x Lai Tasha x
When is chapter 11? Or is it too early to ask? Because I really want to see what happens to the Sangheili Queen.

Kudos to this chapter.


My sentiments exactly on the next chapter and the Queen, but I want to know if Simyaldee and Gridolyee die or get the medical attention they need after being heroes.

  • 06.07.2007 2:55 PM PDT

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I just PM'd you Fred.

Thanks for all the support and assists. I updated some of the errors, mainly on the FF.net post.

The Sharquoi incident: A lot of people have commented to me (FF.net PM's, and here) that they were really hopping for a description of the Sharqoui. Sorry to disappoint. Trust me, this won't be the only encounter we will see. Mainly I wanted you to get an idea that the Sharquoi is not a creature to be taken lightly. A warrior of Simyaldee's skill and reputation was almost killed by it (implied because of his wounds), but at the same token, you can understand that it is killable. Essentially, this was a warning... imagine what 3 or 5 of these things could do ... perhaps... to say... a group of humans. Also, I am not 100% sure of the final look to the Sharquoi, we know they are big, we know they are powerful, and we know the Covenant uses them sparingly. The idea that it needed to be chained up, is still sketchy, but I wanted to show that some, not all, Sharquoi are feared in the Covenant. This is not some stupid beast, it has a mind, it can think, it knows that the Covenant has split. And if you've read the "Conversations of the Universe", then you know that the Brutes are not the original tamers of these beasts. Hence the chains. But if not the Brutes, then who? :O

And yes, Lai, it is still a little too early to ask. lol. But, cause I'm a nice guy, and you guys are awesome... It may come out next Monday (6-18) or sooner.

~soulguard

[Edited on 06.08.2007 8:52 AM PDT]

  • 06.08.2007 8:47 AM PDT
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*sigh*

So many things left unanswered...but a good chapter nonetheless.

This chapter turned out how I had expected based on your description last week: a glimpse, or a "trailer" (if you will) for the next couple of chapters. Yes, we saw some combat, and some Mirratord goodness, but so much is left to close this story, I wonder if it will be finished by the end of the year. Keep up the good work, Soulguard.

Looking forward to the next chapter...and maybe it will be a little more fulfilling than this one :D

BH80

  • 06.08.2007 8:53 AM PDT
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Hey Soul --

Thanx for giving us an update and a small explanation of things. Can you send me a PM with a link to that story or put the link on here.

Fred

  • 06.08.2007 8:58 AM PDT
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I am a Sangheili Bard.
Tomes of the History of the Mirratord
For the honor of the Mirratord!

At the very top before you introduced the chapter, all the time stamps and stuff, you wrote "unless the dogs..." ... and I am wondering what in god's creation that means. Did you intend to write Unleash , or something?
Nice chapter, I liked how Gridolee got his act together. Isnt it great when you still your baying bloodhounds because you knew the bobcat once, and then you regret it because that once-tame bobcat just gutted you cos you didnt have the brains to bean the thing before it could?

~Aardvark

  • 06.09.2007 4:05 AM PDT

The Mirratord The Right Hand Of The High Council

Never judge a man till you've marched a mile in his boots! After that who cares? He's a mile away AND YOU'VE GOT HIS BOOTS!!!!

soul hows the new chapter comin?
got an estimateof when you'll post it'id be a great bday present if you did it tmrw

~Highland Brute/Wildfire~

  • 06.11.2007 12:23 PM PDT
Subject: Path of Reclamation: Level 2
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Hey everyone guess who?

  • 06.11.2007 10:55 PM PDT
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I am a Sangheili Bard.
Tomes of the History of the Mirratord
For the honor of the Mirratord!

Posted by: Palab
Hey everyone guess who?


You have alot to live up to.
~Aardvark

  • 06.12.2007 9:19 AM PDT
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I know I do. Everyone send me a friend request if they would like.

Any update Soul?

  • 06.12.2007 9:48 AM PDT

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Fred, did you change your name to Palab or is there another Grunt Messaih fan floating around?

Update
Well, nothing really new to report. These past few days have been frustratingly active, more job discussions and financial bickering between me and my employer. So, I've been job hunting and looking at other revenous. Sucks that the problem isn't my coworkers, it's the system. Anyway...

Level 11 is still in notes form, and hopefully I will have time to begin working on it come thursday, but there is no clear promise on that. But trust me, once I start working you will all be the first to know.

~soulguard

  • 06.12.2007 1:18 PM PDT