- soulguard
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- Exalted Mythic Member
No one understood the exact reason, but they instantly recognized the meaning. Since the first findings of the Flood it had been assumed that the Flood spread their spores in order to infect the host. This theory was correct, but the theory was slightly off.
Catherine calmed herself and spoke to the group. “The Flood that we know of, the creatures that spring out of our bodies, are already inside of us. It is a strand that makes up an essential code within our DNA. I was stupid… I was so wrong. I can’t cure this. I can’t kill what is already in us.” Catherine sat in a chair and folded upon the table, coursing her hands through her hair. She didn’t cry, she didn’t fret, she simply became silent. She understood more about the Flood then the rest of the team, and she had been given the one final peace of the puzzle that she had been seeking; the source of the Flood.
She knew that it was now officially hopeless to win.
This explained why her cure was only temporary. Palab, the grunt king, was infected several days ago, but the infection became dormant when it interacted with her cure, however, it merely made the Flood spores dormant just like the images in the Forerunner video. She had only repeated the exact formula that the Forerunners had already achieved. But suddenly Catherine realized that Palab did not fully mutate. The Flood spores began to spread, but they quickly became dormant. The same thing happened to Kelly and Sergeant Johnson. Was her cure only an additive, a similar product just like Borren’s Syndrome?
Gibson stated into the room. “Doctor, once you compose yourself, I feel that you should finish watching the images. There is something that may lead to a better understanding of the Path of Reclamation.”
One of the male scientists patted Catherine on the shoulder, softly calming her. Catherine wished she didn’t know anything about the Flood, the way that the other scientist did, but she understood it too thoroughly. The Forerunners destroyed all sentient life because that was the only way to effectively kill the Flood. To starve them by not letting them grow from the inside out. This process would let the spores live, but without a without a host, a body, the Flood would effectively starve.
Catherine raised her head. “Gibson, upload the rest of the images to my data pad and lock it with my private sector number.” Catherine stood, and composed herself. Though the future was bleak, she still had her life to live. The Flood within her, and all of them, had not been awakened; yet. Something so destructive was a part of their genetic makeup, dormant and ignored, and if an active Flood spore interacted with it the body would instantly mutate. Until that day came, she would continue to understand what the Forerunners wanted. “We have to destroy the source of the spores. We must seek the Path.”
Catherine turned to the group and smacked her cheeks softly; a small attempt at trying to forget their fate. “The Path of Reclamation says that the Forerunners created a weapon, built it for us and the Ark will show us where it is. But why would they build a weapon to help us fight the Flood, why not use it themselves. Hypothesize?”
The group pondered the question and one of them spoke up. “Perhaps it works similar to the Halo’s, but on a smaller scale.”
“A good theory.” Catherine smirked. “If Earth and its surrounding populace are dead, then the Ark is protected… and the circle of life will repeat itself. The Seed ship will restock the galaxy and the Ark will recreate humanity. Basically, we start over and another generation will be left to solve the puzzle of destroying the Flood.”
“But why build another weapon on Earth, if Earth is within the reaches of the nearest Halo?” Another scientist questioned. “It seems like such a wasted resource.”
“You’re right as well.” Catherine agreed. “But what if there was something else that they were afraid of?”
An older Asian woman spoke up. “What if we aren’t taking this literally enough? We are talking about a race that was technologically superior to anything we can fathom at this stage of our development. What if this weapon isn’t like the Halo? I mean, what if it is simply a bomb?”
A middle aged black man from the back of the room added. “I think she has a point, but not a bomb, something much more powerful. We all heard what Gibson said, it is ‘a weapon of last resort.’ Last time, we got a second chance. This time, we don’t. Perhaps if this generation can’t figure out the puzzle to stopping the Flood, then there is not choice but to destroy … everything.”
Everyone sat in shock at the news. Catherine voiced her thoughts aloud. “A galactic super bomb. Kill off everything, and protect the universe from the Flood, if they survive.”
The intercom echoed as Gibson spoke. “Doctor Halsey, there is an incoming transmission from Section III.”
“I’m in no mood to yell at Ackerson right now.” Catherine sighed.
“No Doctor, it is Private Wesley Williams of Section III Security.”
“Wesley?” Catherine questioned to herself. It had been a few days since she last saw the young Private. She looked at the rest of her team. “Keep thinking about this, I’ll be right back.”
Catherine walked away from her team of scientists as they continued to debate the idea of the weapon and the Flood. She neared her desk and looked at her data pad, the files that Gibson uploaded to it were most likely awaiting her access. She pocketed the pad and attempted to put the thought out of her mind.
“Patch it through, Gibson.” Catherine sighed. “This is Doctor Halsey.”
“Doctor, it has been some time. Is Eden still holding up?” Wesley questioned.
“What do you care? I seem to recall you leaving with the majority of the brass in order to … how shall I put this? … see to the defense of humanity. If that were true, I think you would be more up to date then I am about the situation here at Eden.”
“I had no choice in the matter ma’am. And I can understand your anger…”
“Wait!” Catherine suddenly remarked. “How are you able to transmit? I thought Truth was jamming communications?”
“He is. Luckily, the world never terminated all of its hard lines that run around the world. Good old twenty second century technology still has its functions. Eden was connected to the world data line in 2431, so we can still communicate, until Truth cuts the hard line.”
“Interesting. So what do you want, Private?”
“Doctor Santos needs your help.”
“Rose? What has she gotten herself into? She kidnapped my Spartan.”
“I’ll call that ‘irony’.” Wesley laughed.
“I don’t have time for you to make jokes, Private. I’m aware of my previous actions.”
“Yes ma’am.” Wesley coughed. “She’s onto a theory about the Reclaimer Armor and Kelly’s uniqueness as one of the Pure Blooded Reclaimers. She needs your assistance in understanding the Spartan’s biology in conjecture to the Armor.”
“She’s good.” Catherine smirked. “Damn good. She figured out the Armor. I don’t know if I can get there, Wesley. There is a battalion of Brutes hovering over the Camp. Sergeant Raynord is dealing with the situation as we speak.”
“Sergeant? I thought the Black Ops were reactivated?” Wesley questioned. “No matter. I’ll let Doctor Santos know the details. Contact me once you have more information.”
“Wesley, where on Earth are you? Where did the brass end up?”
“Most of the brass are still holding up in HIGHCom, but most of Section III is here, the one place Truth would never expect us to be; right under his nose.”
“You’re kidding.”
“No ma’am, it’s the Mombasa observatory. Once the Black Ops have cleaned things up around Eden, I’ll relay the coordinates to you.”
“Let’s hope they can, Private.” The channel faded and Catherine examined her thoughts. “One thing is confusing me, however, and that is that the Flood use sentient beings as their Food. Once the Flood form mutates inside the body, the body begins a continues rate of decomposition. The Flood destroy themselves. Yet at the same time, they continue to spread. I understand why killing off all potential hosts was necessary, but there has to be more.” Catherine stood and rubbed the data pad in her pocket, hoping that the answer would be there, but for now she could not fathom reviewing it. And there was also the strange time difference that Siren reported. She ignored it for now and returned to the group. “Are there any other ideas?”
- - - - - - - -
Northern Camp Eden
Brute occupied territory
November 9, 2552
“Chief, you may begin operations.” Siren’s voice echoed in the COM. Eric knew that now it was his turn. Palab and Siren had successfully take control of the ship and kept the rest of its troops from descending to the ground.
He opened his team channel. “You know the drill, low and fast. Go! Go! Go!”
Several humans and elite Mirratord dashed out from cover, lined up their shots, and began to fire into the camps, while Eric, Mathew and Gridolee sprinted forward. The Brutes began to hunker down as weapons fired split the air around them. Jackal snipers quickly took position at the side of several grunts and strained to look beyond the camp at the incoming fire.
The confusion of fire then began to stop as dozens of human and elite troops began to spring into the camp. The brutes stood and roared their battle cry, ordering the grunts to attack.
But the grunts didn’t charge.