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  • Subject: [Story] The Spartan Four Project (Part Eleven Is Up!)
Subject: [Story] The Spartan Four Project (Part Eleven Is Up!)
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The website said that, the website didn't make halo, bungie did. Even if im wrong, the BR55 will do. Aside from the weapon issue, what did you think of the rest of it?

  • 04.17.2010 8:13 AM PDT

Posted by: Arulaen
No, it's just they stopped using the BR55 in exchange for the BR55HB-SR


This is a big deal? They were still using the BR55 in 2552. I'm sure not EVERY single BR55 out there has been upgraded to a newer model.

Stop nitpicking.

  • 04.17.2010 9:15 AM PDT

"I... believe I understand, sir," John said. "But which was it on this last mission? Lives spent? Or lives wasted?"
Mendez turned back toward the blackness of space and didn't answer.

Sorry, it's just an old habit.

  • 04.17.2010 11:23 AM PDT

An assassin will always carry on, even after death.

Brillant story

  • 04.17.2010 12:31 PM PDT

I like this story. But a few things the Spartans do seem a little...dumb. Like, when Dante killed Mike. Couldn't he just have shot him in the kneecaps or something? Ending his life seemed a little drastic, even if it was obvious Mike wouldn't give. Also, the part where Dante meets his family could use some work. But rest assured, this is a quality story and I look forward to the next installment!

  • 04.17.2010 8:08 PM PDT
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Posted by: Ph34r T3h R34p3r
I like this story. But a few things the Spartans do seem a little...dumb. Like, when Dante killed Mike. Couldn't he just have shot him in the kneecaps or something? Ending his life seemed a little drastic, even if it was obvious Mike wouldn't give. Also, the part where Dante meets his family could use some work. But rest assured, this is a quality story and I look forward to the next installment!



Mike's death was millitary protocal. When a soldier refuses to follow orders in a combat situation, or deserts, the order is to fire apon the soldier. That's actually how it's done, unfortunately.

However, I do understand what you mean about the familly part. I should probably fix that up some time or another, now that I think of it. Any suggestions?

  • 04.17.2010 8:13 PM PDT

Posted by: The Munchies
Posted by: Ph34r T3h R34p3r
I like this story. But a few things the Spartans do seem a little...dumb. Like, when Dante killed Mike. Couldn't he just have shot him in the kneecaps or something? Ending his life seemed a little drastic, even if it was obvious Mike wouldn't give. Also, the part where Dante meets his family could use some work. But rest assured, this is a quality story and I look forward to the next installment!



Mike's death was millitary protocal. When a soldier refuses to follow orders in a combat situation, or deserts, the order is to fire apon the soldier. That's actually how it's done, unfortunately.

However, I do understand what you mean about the familly part. I should probably fix that up some time or another, now that I think of it. Any suggestions?


Well, I think the whole "do you have a girlfriend?" thing was off. I mean, this is a son they thought was dead and has been returned to them. I reckon they'd just frequently lapse into silence and just stare at him in wonder. At first anyway :)

  • 04.18.2010 3:24 AM PDT
Subject: [Story] The Spartan Four Project (Part Twelve Is Ready!)
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P. 12


Sergeant McGovern strolled down the hallway of the UNSC Oppressor, one of the finest destroyers in the fleet. It was time to meet the new guys. Shadow hated the introduction of new squad members, because it always meant that one had just perished.

The ODST reached his squad's bunk, and entered. Inside was a man sitting in a chair, his boots up on a table, and a cigar in his mouth. He looked up from his magnum he was polishing to see his guest. "Sergeant McGovern?" He asked in a Russian accent.

"That's me." Terry replied, "But you can call me Shadow. And you would be?" Shadow sat down on a nearby chair.

"Alek Egorov, I'm your new demolition."

Shadow narrowed his eyes, "Alek Egorov? You know what, let's just go with Boomer."

The door opened, and in walked Canine with Tank by his side. "Who's the new guy?" Canine asked.

"Our demolition."

"We got a name for him yet."

"Boomer." Shadow got up out of his seat, and flopped down on his bed, "Mission tomorrow."

"About damn time." Tank said in his low, rough voice.

"Anyone see our fifth man?" Canine asked. The door again, and the ODSTs froze. In walked a two meter tall figure clad in a metal suit.

The Chief looked down at the ODSTs, examining his squad. "My name is Spartan E18, Master Chief Petty Officer. I am your new CO."

Shadow jumped up off of his bed, infuriated, "Who the hell authorized this?!"

"Colonel Ackerson."

"That bastard." The ODST mumbled under his breath.

"Names and ranks." The Spartan said.

"Canine."

"Tank."

"Shadow."

"Alek."

Canine sighed, "Dude, you're name is Boomer, get it straight." Alek gave Canine a dirty look, then turned his eyes back to the Spartan.

"I didn't ask you for your nicknames." E18 said in a stone cold voice, "I asked for your name, and rank."

"Are you sure you're a Master Chief?" Canine said, "Because I'm pretty sure you're a dick first class."

Tank turned his head to Canine, "Stop."

"Fine, Captain Buzzkill."

"You're like a god damn five year old."

"You know wh-"

"Canine," Shadow interrupted, "Shut it." He then narrowed his eyes at the Spartan, and folded his arms, "Look, you might be a higher rank than me, but when you're rolling with us, I'm in charge, got it?"

The Chief didn't feel like starting a conflict, so he decided to let the punk have his way. "Don't expect me to have your back."

Shadow snarled, and laid back down on his bed. Tank jumped onto his top bunk, and stared at the ceiling. He knew it was only a matter of time before the Spartan and Shadow had enough of each other, and there was nothing he could do about it.

"Lock and load ODSTs lets move!" Shadow charged his battle rifle, and stepped into his modified drop pod. They were going to drop from the Oppressor, and use laser drills on their pods to break through a hollowed out asteroid where the Spartans were being held. It was a suicide mission, but that's what the ODSTs were all about.

The Chief gave Shadow an icy glare as the ODSTs pod closed. When it had completely shut, he slipped his helmet on, and stepped into his own.

In a moment, there was a loud "Clank!" and the pods dropped into space. Shadow appeared on E18's pod's display screed, his middle finger up. "Up yours too." E18 said, smashing his screen.

The alarm went off in everyone's pod, and they activated their drills. The pod's shook as they smashed into the asteroid. They breached the rock surface, and fell into the interior.

E18's pod hit the ground first. He kicked the door open, and rolled out. They had landed right in a market, civilians everywhere. "Everyone on the ground, now!" He shouted as emergency airlocks closed the holes in the asteroid.

The rest of the pods hit the ground, and their doors popped off. "Go go go!" Shadow ran out of his, scanning the rooftops, then looking at the civilians who had yet to drop down. Every single one of the market dwellers reached into some clothing article, and drew out a weapon. "Sh1t!"

The squad ran for cover behind stalls. There was a, "Gah!" Over com, and Canine's vitals spiked. "I'm hit!" He shouted as he slid behind a stall, pushing his hand against his stomach.

The Spartan drew a grenade, primed it, and tossed it over the top of the stall. There was an explosion, and cries of pain.

Tank peered around the edge of his stall. The grenade had killed about six, wounded four, and distracted the rest. He fired three bursts from his battle rifle, taking down three enemies. "They were expecting us."

"Yeah, no -blam!-!" Canine snapped.

"Boomer!" Shadow called out, "Plant some C8 and let's fall back!" Boomer complied, and they hauled ass away from the explosive. Bullets flew past them as they retreated, making them run even faster. The enemy followed, and right when they were in perfect position, Shadow yelled his command, "Now!"

Boomer pressed his detonator, and a cloud of blood spread through the air. There were thuds and smacks as body parts hit the metal floor. "-blam!-, that's nasty." Canine commented, collapsing immediately after.

Tank kneeled down next to him, and a can of biofoam out of his medical pack. Canine winced behind his visor as the foam entered his body. Tank patted his shoulder, "Now, get up and do your job."

Canine got to his knees, picked up his battle rifle, and stood. "Where to?"

The Chief activated the map in his helmet, and headed back into the market place. Shadow didn't like how the Spartan took off without alerting them. He was in charge here, not some two meter tall freak.

The squad jumped down into the crater the C8 had made, and climbed out on the other side. There was a low hum in the distance, getting louder and louder.

Canine looked at Shadow. "That kinda sounds like a tank."

"Yeah?" Tank replied.

Shadow listened, and his eyes widened. "Tank!"

"What?"

"No, tank!"

"What?!"

Everyone took coverin the crater except for Spartan and Tank. E18 pushed Tank backwards into the crater as a scorpion rounded the corner.

The Chief sprinted right at the armored vehicle as it turned its head, aligning its barrel with the Spartan. "Kaboom!"





[Edited on 04.18.2010 10:55 AM PDT]

  • 04.18.2010 9:22 AM PDT
Subject: [Story] The Spartan Four Project (Part Eleven Is Up!)

An assassin will always carry on, even after death.

A scorpion in an astriod.
Very good =D

  • 04.18.2010 9:32 AM PDT
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No matter how many seals are killed by sharks a year, it never seems to be enough :D

ASPLOSIONS! YAY! Doin great man, keep it up :D

  • 04.20.2010 4:33 PM PDT
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P.13


Dante rolled out of the way as a tank shell slammed into the ground where he had been moments before. His shields were cut down to one fourth, but he continued. The tank fired again. This time the Chief deflected it with his hand, sending it into a nearby building.

The Spartan reached the tank jumped up on it, and bent its barrel. He jumped back off and turned tail. The scorpion's operator thought he was just running away. Firing, the shell slammed into the bend in the barrel, and detonated.

Canine climbed out of the crater, staring at the hulk of burning metal that was once a mighty tank. "Sh1t dude, that was awesome!"

Shadow grunted, "Next time just pull the guy out. We coulda used that thing."

E18 turned around to face the critic, "I'm planning on not attracting too much attention."

"We already made a huge explosion. Stealth isn't really a factor now."

"If they have a scorpion, they could have anything. A tank isn't exactly a difficult target to hit."

"Hey, were fighting the innies, not each other." Tank said, ending the argument. Dante pulled the blueprints of the asteroid up on his HUD, "Alright, there's a vault two floors down. That's where our Spartans are being kept."

Canine spread his arms, "Great, two more floors of this sh1t."

"This asteroid is huge. We're in the market section of a town. Without transportation it's going to be one hell of a walk."

Shadow looked around the area, "I don't suppose they have an autogarage around here."

"The blueprints don't say." Dante replied, "but if we stay here I'm sure some vehicles will come our
way." The squad heard a whine in the distance, and looked up into the air. E18 checked his MarK VII radar, "Incoming hornet!"

"Where are they getting all this?!" Canine shouted.

Shadow pointed towards a bar. "In there, now!" The squad ran into the building, and crouched in areas away from the window. The hornet hovered over the area, turning to get a full view.

The Chief activated a direct com beam, "Don't move a muscle." Bullets hailed through the roof, sending splinters of wood everywhere as it hit the bar's furniture and counter.

The squad scattered, trying to find the best cover they could. A sixty caliber round struck Tank in the chest, punching through his armor and blowing a large hole in his torso. "No!" Canine ran for his friend, but a hand grabbed the back of his armor, and pulled him away. He struggled to break free, but whoever had him was too strong.

Dante threw the ODST through the bar's back window, then jumped out himself, Boomer and Shadow following close behind. The hum of warthogs slowly approached, this was bad. The squad ran from the hornet, and it pursued.

Bullets licked at the soldier's heels as they jumped into an alleyway. Right when they reached the opening, a troop carrier warthog with the words, "Party Hog." Spray painted on the side of it slid to a halt in front of the exit.

The innies raised their guns, but were dead before they could fire. "Pile in!" Shadow commanded. The ODST jumped into the driver's seat, Dante in the passenger, and Boomer and Canine in the back, their legs dangling over the edge. Shadow floored it, and they raced through the town. The hornet followed, but peeled off when the squad entered a crowded section of the town.

Innies dove out of the way as the vehicle roared through. Those who didn't get out of the way fast enough were instantly killed. Blood started to cover the windshield, and Shadow turned on the wipers. It smeared the blood, making it even harder to see.

Innie soldiers appeared on the rooftops, and fired down. Their bullets pinged off of the warthog as it sped through the street. There was a loud crack, and a streak of white that punched through the blood smeared windshield.

Shadow let out a shot yell as the warthog swerved. It almost crashed into a building, but Dante grabbed the wheel, firing back at the same time. Shadow had his hand on the side of his neck, "I'm hit bad." He said with a strained voice. The bullet had cut open an artery, and he was bleeding out.

"Too bad Tank had the med kit," Canine said, "Hey, maybe if we pull over we can get some directions to a pharmacy, right Chief?"

"Shut it and fire your weapon!" Shadow commanded. Canine raised his weapon, and fired at the rooftops, but they were like insects, for every one that was killed, three more returned.

Shadow swerved to the right, heading down another street. "What are you doing?!" Dante roared, "get back on course!" The ODST ignored him. He was exactly where he wanted to be, the town center.

Shadow fishtailed the warthog, slamming it's rear end into a mass of people. He sped up again, hitting everyone he could. The soldier laughed as the blood of men, women, and children spattered the vehicle. When he had had enough, he turned, and went back on course.

Some of the survivors of the slaughter drew out weapons, and fired at the warthog. The vehicle sunk to one side, but kept going. It was on the verge of explosion. Then they saw it, the elevator. They were almost there when Dante spotted a man with a Spartan laser. "Bail!"




  • 04.21.2010 8:03 PM PDT

An assassin will always carry on, even after death.

Try to keep someone alive

  • 04.22.2010 11:14 AM PDT
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Posted by: Skulblaka
Try to keep someone alive


Lol, I'll keep that in mind.

  • 04.22.2010 12:51 PM PDT
Subject: [Story] The Spartan Four Project (Part Two Is Available!)
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Your a great writer, and of course I love the characters!

  • 04.24.2010 7:30 AM PDT
Subject: [Story] The Spartan Four Project (Part Seven Is Ready!)
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That was a very interesting plot twitst, I also like the reasoning you've used for saving his fellow spartan after he tortured an insurgetn

  • 04.24.2010 7:58 AM PDT
Subject: [Story] The Spartan Four Project (Part Eight Is Available!)
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I've just stumbled upon this treat today, and I've been playing the halo games since the first one came out back in '01

  • 04.24.2010 8:30 AM PDT
Subject: [Story] The Spartan Four Project (Part Nine Is Up!)
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From my understanding the spartan IV program was started by the Doctor Halsey and and weapons group under Oni

  • 04.24.2010 9:06 AM PDT
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DR. Halsey was in charge of the spartan two project only. During the spartan four project, wich has never been mentioned in the games, she is trapped in a slipspace bubble (as said in ghosts of onyx.)

Thank you for the positive comments :)

  • 04.24.2010 11:17 AM PDT

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

Posted by: The Munchies
DR. Halsey was in charge of the spartan two project only. During the spartan four project, wich has never been mentioned in the games, she is trapped in a slipspace bubble (as said in ghosts of onyx.)


Maybe because there never was a Spartan IV project in the games... Or any form of media... lol

  • 04.24.2010 12:40 PM PDT
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Posted by: ajw34307
Posted by: The Munchies
DR. Halsey was in charge of the spartan two project only. During the spartan four project, wich has never been mentioned in the games, she is trapped in a slipspace bubble (as said in ghosts of onyx.)


Maybe because there never was a Spartan IV project in the games... Or any form of media... lol



That's what I was saying bro. That's why I like writing this. I have a lot of room.

  • 04.24.2010 1:40 PM PDT
Subject: [Story] The Spartan Four Project (Part Fourteen Is Ready!)
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P.14



The squad jumped off of the warthog just before the laser hit. The vehicle exploded, letting off a shockwave that threw the soldiers against a building.

Everything was a blur. A high pitched ring in Shadow's ear took place of the cracks of gunfire. A hand grabbed the front of his armor, and pulled him into the little cover between the flaming warthog wreckage and the front of a building.

"Shadow," A Russian voice called, "Shadow! Get off your ass and start shooting!" Shadow's vision and hearing had been restored, and he got up. Kneeling behind the hog, he touched a pain on his head. When he brought his hand into view, it was wet with blood.

Shadow looked at boomer, who was firing at the rooftops on the other side of the street. "Where's my helmet?"

"Gone."

Shadow winced as he felt the pain in his neck spike. The ODST suddenly realized that he still had his hand on his neck. On the battlefield, one had to be resourceful, and shadow knew how. He grabbed a searing hot piece of metal from the warthog wreckage, doing his best to not let it touch his exposed fingers. He gritted his teeth as he pressed the metal against the slice on the side of his neck, closing the wound.

Boomer turned around, and faced the rooftop of the building their backs were against. Four innies ran to the edge, and pointed their guns down at the ODSTs. Boomer fired a three shot burst as he swept his gun along their line, making three headshots. The remaining insurgent had time to pull the trigger of his assault rifle, but the bullets struck Boomer's armor, pinging off harmlessly. That was the last thing the innie ever did.

Shadow's gun clicked, and he reached down to his belt for another clip. He cursed as his hand made no contact with a clip. "I'm out of mags!"

Boomer reloaded, and handed a clip to Shadow. "That's my last clip. Make every shot count."

Shadow disliked Boomer's superior attitude, but he was right. Shadow switched his gun to semiautomatic, and rejoined the fight. "Where the hell are the Chief and Canine?!"

"I don't know, they were gone when I got up. I tried to radio them, but they have jammed our COM." Boomer's gun clicked, and he looked around for a weapon. An assault rifle was in the middle of the street, lying next to a dead innie. The risk was too high.

Shadow ran out of ammunition, and threw his gun against the wall behind him. "Haul ass?"

Boomer turned to his CO, "Haul ass." The two ODSTs got up, and ran for their lives, heading down the street for a nearby shop to hide in.

The two ODSTs started to Cross an intersection, a fully cased siege warthog screeched to a halt in front of them. The driver's door opened, revealing a girl wearing a buckeyball fiber vest over a blue T-shirt. "Get in!"

There was no time for questions. If the girl was offering a ride out of the hail of lead, he was obviously friendly. The ODSTs opened the back seat's door, and jumped in, closing it behind them. The man hit the pedal, and the warthog screeched to motion. "Who the hell are you?" Shadow asked.

"Lieutenant Saline Holland, ONI. You idiots just walked into one hell of a trap."

"What?"

Saline shifted the hog's gears, drifting around a corner. She shifted them again, and kept going. "You were set up. There are no Spartans here, or anything else of value. This mission was created for the sole purpose of killing E18."

"Are you telling me there's someone on the inside?" Shadow said in a confused voice.

"No, I'm telling you this is a surprise birthday! Yes I'm telling you someone's on the inside!"

"How did you get here?"

"Sh1t!" The ONI officer exclaimed as she swerved to the right to avoid a rocket, "One of you get on the 50cal and sweep the rooftops!" Boomer moved to the back, and poked up out of the warthog's roof, arming the rotating cannon.

Hot shells fell into the warthog's interior as Boomer unleashed a hail of explosive rounds at the tops of the buildings. Shadow jumped into the passenger seat next to Saline. "I have two men around here somewhere."

"I know. Somebody slipped trackers into your suits before the mission."

"How the hell do you know all of this?"

"I'm a deep cover operative. I was high in their ranks before you dick heads screwed it all up."

"How did we screw it up?" Shadow asked, agitated, "You didn't have to save us."

Saline groaned, "And let the UNSC's last Spartan die?"

"Last Sp-" There was a clank and a thud as Boomer fell from the turret back into the warthog, grasping his shoulder.

Saline looked in the rearview mirror and saw Boomer, "Med kit's in the dashboard."

Shadow opened the dashboard, grabbed the kit, and zipped it open. Rummaging through it, he found a can of biofoam. He took off the cap, and handed it to Boomer. He sprayed it into his wound, and got back on the rotating cannon. "Last Spartan?" Shadow continued.

" The innies dropped some sort of an EMP that locked all of the Spartans' armor on that destroyed base," Saline replied, "With the Spartans out of the way, the base was easily overcome."

"You're telling me they're dead?" Shadow said in a cold voice.

"Yes."


[Edited on 04.24.2010 10:14 PM PDT]

  • 04.24.2010 2:50 PM PDT
Subject: [Story] The Spartan Four Project (Part Nine Is Up!)

How'd you find me?

70 replies? 71 counting mine? What have you been doing right that I haven't been? Anyway, good part. Though ONI finds a way into everyone's writing, somehow...

  • 04.24.2010 9:11 PM PDT
Subject: [Story] The Spartan Four Project (Part Fourteen Is Ready!)
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P.15



Shadow cursed, "Alright, where are the trackers on our suits?"

Saline shrugged, "Could be anywhere." A sly grin appeared on her face.

"Wow, really?"

The ONI officer, looked at her watch, "Alright, your friends are a few blocks ahead. Once they get in, where gonna have to find those trackers. Radio them and tell them that the siege warthog coming is a friendly."

"Boomer!" Shadow shouted. The firing of the cannon was too loud for Boomer to hear Shadow's voice, but a tap on the leg got his attention. "Radio Canine and the Ch-"

"The radio's shot." Boomer interrupted, "Why did you think I hadn't radioed them before?"

There Boomer was with the superior attitude again. Shadow shrugged it off. There were more important things to take care of. He turned back to Saline, and shook his head. "That's a negative. They'll see Boomer and know."

An innie jumped out from an ally, and aimed his battle rifle at Boomer's head. Boomer was distracted with watching the rooftops for rockets and Spartan lasers to notice, but before the innie could pull the trigger, Saline opened the titanium door of the warthog, and pushed it out with her leg. The door slammed into the innie, shutting it again. She laughed as she looked at the innie's dead body through her left mirror.

Shadow looked at Saline with narrowed eyes. The girl was wild. "Hold on." She said casually as she slammed the breaks. Shadow was able to grab a handhold, saving himself from slamming into the dashboard.

The back door opened, and two men piled in. "Holy sh1t!" Canine exclaimed, breathing heavily, "That was close."

Saline hit the gas, and took a left. "Alright, there's no time to find the trackers. We have to get to the dock and steal a ship. The trackers don't work while in slipspace, so once we jump you can find them."

"What?" Dante said, confused.

"No time to explain." Shadow replied.

"We still have to save my Spartans."
"They're dead." There was no tone of apology or sadness in Shadow's voice.

Dante slid down in his seat, and went still. "Chief?" Canine said with concern.

An alarm started beeping on the inside of the warthog. "Something just locked on to us," There was a loud explosion, and a hornet crashed down in front of the hog. The ONI officer swerved left, and smashed through a building. The windshield was cracked, but there was still some visibility.

They took a left, aligning themselves with the hangar's colossal doors. A red light began to flash as they slowly closed. "They're trying to lock us out!" Canine shouted.

"No sh1t!" Saline shouted, gripping the wheel tightly. The hog sped out of the town, and towards the hangar on a wide road. Soon it seemed like they wouldn't make it. "Here it goes!" The hangar gates were just as wide as the hog as it's front half made it through, however, the tail end, inhabited by Boomer, was caught and crushed. The front half of the hog rolled on the ground, and then started to slide and screech, sending sparks everywhere. Finally it came to a halt. Nothing Moved.

Innies started to swarm toward it, guns drawn. Shadow watched them through blurry eyes and cracked glass. "Chief." He whispered as he held what felt like a broken arm. There was no response. The Spartan was obviously okay, and with a weapon, he could save them from this. "Chief." He repeated. That's when he realized that the Spartan wouldn't be moving for quite some time. Telling him that his brethren were dead in such an abrupt manner was a horrible idea.

The innies were getting closer and closer. Right when it seemed like the end, explosive rounds slammed into them, blowing the crowd to pieces. In a minute, a rotating cannon fell to the ground next to the hog's crumpled window. Boomer kneeled down, and tore off the car door, "I've got you sir." The Russian voice was usually just annoying to Shadow, but now, it was music to his ears.


[Edited on 04.25.2010 5:35 PM PDT]

  • 04.25.2010 5:32 PM PDT

How'd you find me?

Another great part, Munchies.

  • 04.26.2010 6:36 PM PDT
Subject: [Story] The Spartan Four Project (Part Sixteen Is Up!)[Part Links!]
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P. 16



Boomer helped his superior out of the flipped warthog, and let go of him. Next, Boomer took a hold of Canine, and pulled him out. "On your feet comrade."

Canine squinted in confusion behind his cracked visor. "Did you just call me comrade?" Boomer ignored him, and went on to Saline. He grabbed her unconscious body, and pulled her out. Blood trickled down her face from a large cut on her head.

Shadow looked at the girl with a worried face, "Will she be okay?" He was oddly nervous. He had already lost one man, and he wasn't up for losing anyone else.

"I don't know," Boomer replied, "I'm not a medic."

Canine looked around. "We should probably get going guys. I don't know about you, but I don't really want to die."

Boomer took another look inside to hog, "Chief, it's time to go." There was no response.

Shadow leaned down next to boomer, and looked at the Spartan. "I know what you're going through. Five years ago, when I first inlisted, me and everyone I had met at boot were sent on a mission. We thought we had a good idea of what was going to happen. It seemed simple. We didn't know it was a suicide mission. I saw every one of my friends die, every one of them. The mission failed, and their deaths were in vein. Did I let that stop me, no. You know what I did? I fought harder."

Dante was still for a moment, but after a moment, he crawled out of the warthog. "Where's our ride?"

"I think this chick knows." Canine said, pointing at the unconscious ONI officer.

"Great," E18 looked around the hangar, and spotted a ship that struck his fancy, "That." He said, pointing at it. It wasn't very big, but it had a weapon's system, a small MAC cannon, and even a Shaw-Fujikawa engine.

"Can you fly it?" Shadow asked.

"Yeah, I've seen that class before, it's like flying a long sword."

"Alright, let's do it." Shadow picked Saline up, and they boarded the ship, and ran to the bridge. The Master Chief sat down in the captain's chair, and powered the ship up.

Canine removed his helmet, revealing his sweaty face. "Uh, the airlock's closed."

"Not an issue." Dante powered up the engines to 140 percent, and it tore off of its bindings, and slammed through the airlock. "Allright, I'm initiating a random jump."

"What?" Shadow said, coming back from dropping Saline off at the sleeping quarters.

"If what the ONI officer said is true, somebody on that ship wants us dead."

"We have nowhere to go!"

"That's why I said random." The Chief retorted. His voice wasn't that of an aggravated person, or angry. It wasn't cold either, it was bland. Something had happened to him in that asteroid. He had lost everything. Everything was numb, Dante was dead inside. At least he didn't have to worry about becoming a monster anymore.

Shadow snarled at the Chief's reply. Who did this Spartan think he was? Before Shadow could reply, the ship jumped.


CRITICAL ERROR!!!

Slipspace drive malfunction: Type C//Magnetic Vortex Interfierence [Exit Not Possible]

Duration estimation...Attempt 1...Attempt 2...Attempt 3...Unable to determine.



2 months later


Everyone but Dante sat on the bridge in silence. They had moved a table onto it to make it an area for socializing while watching the slipspace monitor. This seemed like the end to all of them, an unfortunate way to die. Canine shifted in his seat. "Well, I think it's safe to assume that we're all dead. We're almost out of this dry processed sh1t for food, and it's been a month in slipspace. It's probably time to-"

"Shut it Mike." Shadow said.

"Terry, we all know it's true. It's just that nobody has had the balls to bring it to words."

"He's right." Boomer said, "At least about this being the end of us."

"Thank you Alek." Mike said, smiling with satisfaction. There was a brief period of silence, then Canine continued, "I think it's time for confessions."

Terry slammed his fist on the table. "Mike, shut it! That's an order!"

"No no no, I'm not under your command. Canine was under your command, and after a month of being in slipspace, Canine is dead. I'm Mike, me, the free guy who isn't enlisted in a branch of people looking for assisted suicide. Boomer's dead, Shadow's dead, It's just Mike, Alek, and Terry."

"Now you're starting to sound insane." Saline stated, resting her head on her fist.

"Oh yeah? We'll you're hot."

Alek let out a short laugh, "Yes, he's definitely insane."

Saline sighed, "Screw you."

"It doesn't take a sane person to see that she's pretty." Mike stated matter of factly.

"Thank you Mike." Saline smiled.

"Now, time for the confessions." Mike rubbed his hands together, and looked at Terry. "I peed on your toothbrush once." Even Terry laughed. Everything seemed funny after a month in literally nowhere.

Terry shook his head. "I have an odd feeling that you came up with this game just so you could tell us that."

"Maybe," Mike said, "But that doesn't mean it ends now."

"Alright," Terry thought for a moment, "I dip my fries in mayonnaise." Once again, everyone laughed.

"But really man, cough one up."

"Alright," Terry leaned back in his chair, and puffed out his cheeks in thought, "I use to steal sh1t for a living."

Alek stroked his burly beard that he had acquired over the past month. He didn't like shaving with Ka-Bar knives. "I enlisted by accident."

After a laugh from the table, Saline lifted a hand. "Wait wait wait, how does one enlist by accident?"

"I was drunk and I thought I was signing up for a golf club."

Terry huffed. "Well that must have been a surprise when the enlistment officer showed up at your door asking you why you didn't show up at the buss."

"Alright," Mike interrupted, "On to Saline."

Saline leaned forward, resting her chin on her palm and tapping her finger on the table. "I" She strained for a moment, "Kissed Terry when he was sleeping!"

Everyone was silent for a good ten seconds, then mike spoke, "Nice." Just then, Dante walked, a groggy look on his face. "Hey D, we're telling secrets, what's yours?"

The Spartan stood still for a moment. His face became softer than usual for a moment, then hardened again. "What you see is what you get."

"Buzz kill." Mike whispered as Dante went to the captain's chair.

The Spartan was slouched over at first, then sat up straight, "Wait a minute." He said, tapping in a few orders. "Incoming hole in slipspace. We've got our way out. I'm locking on to it now."

Everyone cheered, and even Dante seemed to brighten up. "We live!" Canine shouted. Boomer jumped on top of the table, and started singing something in Russian. Canine jumped on the table and danced along with him, "I have no idea what you're saying but I love it!"

Saline grabbed Shadow's shirt, and pulled him forward, pressing her lips against his, holding him there for a good six seconds before releasing her grip. The ship rumbled, and exited slipspace. Everyone was silent, looking through the glass at the stars. It was as if everyone had been holding their breath the whole time, and were finally breathing again.

A planet drifted into view, and they stared at it in wonder. None of them recalled a planet being this far out in space. Their sight was soon obscured by a large hulk of metal float in front of the ship. Shadow narrowed his eyes. "What the hell is that?"

When it drifted further away, it became clear. "Looks like half of a UNSC cruiser." Saline said in a confused voice.

"Picking up a distress signal," The Chief said, "it's coming from the wreck."

"It must be old," Boomer stated, "That class of cruiser is no longer in commission. Whoever sent out that beacon is nothing but bones now."

Shadow narrowed his eyes. "We might as well check it out. There could be food. We'll need it to get home."

"I'm not eating anything that old." Canine said, laughing.

"Space rations never go bad." The Master Chief said, "I'm putting on my suit, and going out there." He put on his MJOLNIR armor, and stepped into the airlock. He pressed his back against the wall next to the door, and activated his com. "Open it up."

"Rodger." Boomer's voice replied. There was a hiss, and the airlock's atmosphere rushed out. Dante drifted from the safe spot against the wall over the the door that led inside of the ship. He skillfully aligned himself, and bent his knees.

"What if you miss?" Saline asked.

"I won't." The Chief launched off of the wall, and shot towards the spacecraft. It was a perfect launch. He flew right into one of the decks, and stopped against the far wall. He grabbed a hold of something, and took a look around. There was a holopad, and a cryotube. First he drifted to the holopad, and checked for an AI. A chip popped out into his hand, the blue light that represented an AI was flickering.

Dante pushed off of the holopad, and grabbed onto the cryotube. There was a layer of frost over the glass hiding the figure beneath. E18 placed his hand at the top of the tube, and brushed a circle in the frost. "What do you see?" Shadow crackled over the COM.

There was a brief period of silence, then Dante spoke. "You're not going to believe this"


[Edited on 04.27.2010 1:25 PM PDT]

  • 04.26.2010 8:53 PM PDT