Episode 1: Winter
As the group of 7 Spartans walked along the snowy tundra once known as New York city, they felt the cold air rush through their lungs. They were sent on a mission to eliminate the Shangheili rebellion that fought hard against the Human/Shangheili alliance. The leader of the one of three chapters of the rebellion force, known as The Holy Spirit, was supposedly held up here in cowardice. This chapter was known as The Mind.
The seven Spartans got into the center of Times Square, a once bustling city street, now snow-covered ruins. It was amazing their was still power for the advertisements and billboards all around, setting an eerie glow on the Spartans’ EVA battle armor.
“Man, this place really went to hell,” commented Harry, one of the Spartans. “I’ve only heard stories of this place. It was said that the Covenant attempted to glass this-“ “That’s enough!” interrupted Steven, the leader. “We’ve all heard the stories. It’s a ghost town, so let’s get over it and move on.”
Just then, and loud crack! of a sniper rifle sent one of the Spartans falling to the ground. “Dammit!” cried Steven. “Take cover! Jess, find that sniper and eliminate the bastard!” “Eye!” said Jess, as, with another crack! of a sniper rifle, a jackal fell to the ground from the top of a building. She surveyed the area one more time. “It’s looks clear, but I’d recommend extreme caution if we’re going to mobilize,” said Jess to the other Teammates. “We’ll have to move if we can kill this rebel bastard,” said Jason. “I have a bubble-shield; I can carry it with me.” Crack! A sniper round whizzed by Jess’ head. “Let’s do that before I get by brains blown out!” exclaimed Jess.
As the Spartans moved, 2 in the bubble, carrying the Harry’s corpse along with them, Jess and 2 others covering them, and Jason carrying the bubble-shield, the winter breeze grew into a blizzard. This was making the defense job more difficult.
“You know what I don’t understand?” said Fred. “Why are jackals using human sniper rifles? Shouldn’t they be using beam-rifles?” “If you’re in a small rebellion war, you take what you can get, no questions asked,” answered Jess. “I’m not surprised they’re using our own weapons. They’re probably using makeshift tech, too, like steam powered lights and reverse engineered shields.”
It was a long walk, especially with a corpse in hand. “Steven,” said Jason. “Yes?” said Steven. “Can I have a private talk with you?” “Sure.” Both Spartans switched to a private Com-channel. “The bubble-shield’s energy is starting to run out,” said Jason. “I know, this looks bad,” said Steven. “We’re going to have to do something about Harry.” “I know, I know, this is a problem, I know, but we’re going to have to improvise and use what we’ve got, or even, what someone else has.” “Well, I don’t know about you, but I suggest we take refuge in some nearby building before we all get sniped.” “Agreed.” Both Spartans opened their com channels. “Everybody,” announced Steven. “We’re going to have to find a nearby building to go inside.”
As they slowly progressed, they searched through the blizzard for something, anything, but nothing could be found. No buildings, no nothing. The blizzard started to die down, making things easier, but there was little time afterwards before all hell broke loose.
All of a sudden the side of a building exploded as a Brute Chopper soared out and headed directly for the Spartan team. All but Fred dashed out of the way, who proceeded to attempt to hijack the fearsome hovercraft. He grabbed on to the nose, but the driver tried to shake him off without success, when he suddenly let go and quickly grabbed the pilot by the head. Time seemed to slow down, as within that split second that the Spartan had a hold of the enemy’s head, he snapped his neck, pulling both Fred and the Elite corpse along with him off of the Brute Chopper.
Jason stood got up from the ground. To his left was a giant, fiery hole in the wall of a building. Perfect. All of the Spartans regrouped and went into the deserted apartment building. “Well, we’ve lost the shield,” said Steven. “But at least we’re in here.” The building was obviously occupied. Fresh supplies were strewn about on the grounds. Weapons, ammo, armor equipment.
They collected most of the supplies into an old duffel bag that was trapped under some rubble. Fred found a bubble shield, some ammunition for his pistol, some grenades, and even an Energy Sword, which he took for himself. “Well, it looks like we’re in luck,” said Steven. “Apparently the Mind leader is held up at the top of this building.”
The Spartans proceeded to the staircase, which was collapsed. They then looked to the elevator shaft, which was busted. “Dammit, there’s no way up,” said Steven. “Hey, it looks like there may be a ladder leading up to the top floor,” exclaimed Jess. “If we can get up there, the stairs might be climbable from then on, until we get to the top.”
Each of the Spartans climbed through the escape hatch at the ceiling of the elevator, into the shaft. The ladder looked steady enough, so Fred started up. “Wait!” called George. What do we do about Harry?” He was right, Harry was going to be an issue. “We’ll have to give him a burial,” said Steven. “He’s slowing us down.” “But he wasn’t shot in any lethal area,” said George. “According to his vitals, he’s only been stunned. If we can get a Pelican over here to pick him up, he can get proper treatment.” “Fine, you can stay down here with him,” said Steven. “Make sure he’s safe from anything, and make sure he doesn’t die. And in the meantime, call for evac. By the time they get here, we’ll be done.”
And with that, all except for George and Harry climbed the ladder up to the top floor.
“We’re getting closer,” said Jason. “I can smell that bastard from a mile away, and it doesn’t smell good.” They were only 2 floors away from the top. They could hear gunfire; that wasn’t a good sign. “Who are those uglies fighting?” questioned Fred. “I don’t know, but it sounds nasty,” answered Steven.
When they got just a floor away from the top, the ugly truth set in. There was no ladder beyond that point, and they were about 3 meters from the closest elevator door opening. “It looks like I might have to start a human ladder,” said Steven. He climbed up to the top of the broken ladder, and stood up, trying to keep his balance. He then jumped up and grabbed on to the ledge. All of the other Spartans proceeded to climb up his back, and soon he hoisted himself up after everyone was up.
When they got up, they witnessed a sight they never thought they would see. It was a battle between the Mind and some marines who managed to survive. Steven ran up to one of the marines taking cover. “What the hell is going on here?” exclaimed Steven. “Oh, thank god, you must be the rescue team!” cried the marine in distress. “We were sent down here a while ago, and everyone thought we were dead!” “This isn’t the rescue team,” replied Steven. “We’re here to interrogate and eliminate the leader of the Mind. “Goddammit, I thought I was being saved,” said the soldier. “Well, you’ll help us out here, right? We’ve been held up here for days!”
The Spartan didn’t reply. He got out of cover and threw a spike grenade at the opposition. It stuck directly to an Elite who was firing madly at anything that moved, and exploded. It killed the Elite, and the spikes shot out and stabbed any one near him. “Jess, come over here and suppress the enemy,” commanded Steven. “Fred, Gabriel; you go over and flank right. Jason, you and me flank left!”
The plan was carried out almost flawlessly as Fred and Gabriel diverted to the right and smacked anyone in their way with the butt of their Assault Rifles. Meanwhile, as Jess dealed suppressing fire as she sniped grunts and Elites, Steven and Jason flanked left.
As Fred and Steven followed the right passage, swapping positions of firing and taking cover, they went into what looked like a dead end. In truth, the entire level was ready to collapse, even the entire structure. Most of the floor and ceiling was missing, which just left girders and rubble from fallen pillars, and most of the place was on fire. Covenant rebels were taking cover and hiding everywhere, including some of the apartments. The whole level didn’t even look like an apartment building anymore.
Fred and Steven were faced with the challenge of having to cross a “bridge” of a girder that led to the enemy’s side, which was separated by a huge gap. This was especially difficult for them, because as they had to cross the makeshift balance beam, they also had to avoid getting shot. When they finally got to the other side, Steven immediately shot and killed 2 grunts with his pistol as soon as they both ducked for cover; Steven under a fallen half of a pillar, Fred already on the move. Fred was the stealth and CQC expert.
As Fred ran went cautiously through the door frame into a destroyed apartment, he paused and took out a spike grenade. Just then an Elite came out of the corner in an ambush attempt, only to be smashed in the face by Fred’s spike grenade. It was not intended to be detonated for this part, but if worse came to worse… He ran through the next doorway to his right and hit a grunt in the chest, sending it flying, and proceeded to throw it at the jackal who was trying to snipe any of the Spartans. Since Fred didn’t arm the grenade, he grabbed it out of the jackal’s cheek and stuck it onto a nearby pillar; he had plans for it later.
Jason and Gabriel were firing off their weapons like mad at a pack of jackals and grunts. A few of the jackals and grunts were killed, and Gabriel tossed a frag to clear out the rest. Jess was sniping like it was nothing, taking down Elites and opposite snipers to make things a little easier.
“God, I hat this,” said George, who was back at the bottom of the base. “Everyone’s having all the fun and I’m sitting down here with a dead body.” He looked around for any enemies, but he couldn’t find any. All of a sudden, he heard a loud thump! behind him. Exited, he stood up and turned around with his gun pointed at whatever made the noise. To his horror, it wasn’t some bloodthirsty Elite; actually, it was familiar. He ran over and looked at the body of Steven. He had several bullet holes in his chest, his leg was obliterated from plasma, and his head was gone.
“Steven, status report!” called Jess. “It’s hard to see ya from up here!” “Ugh, it couldn’t be worse right about now,” replied Steven. “I’m pinned down here; if Fred doesn’t hurry up, I’m dead. If I move an inch, I’m dead. I’d basically have to say I’m pretty screwed over right here.” Fred was handling himself quite well. He was accurately firing his pistol, even if it seemed like blind fire, and he killed stealthily whenever he got the chance; it was almost graceful, in a way.
“I don’t know how much longer I can stay here. If I move, those snipers will be hot on my ass.” Just then a plasma grenade landed at his feet. “I’m going mobile, now!” Steven cried as he started off sprinting, when the grenade detonated. He screamed in pain. His left leg was blown off from the plasma blast. He was then pulling himself towards the apartment in front of him, when an Elite chieftain lifted him up, and showed him to all of the Mind. And as all of the Elites, all of the grunts, all of the jackals cheered like animals, firing blindly into the air, the chieftain took his Energy Sword and cut off Steven’s head, and raised it in triumph, letting the body fall down through the entire building.
“Dammit, not another one!” cried George. “This can’t end this way.” George gave Steven a proper burial, digging in the snow for a grave, as cautiously as possible, slowly, but surely.
Fred was tearing through the Mind like tissue paper and he shot and killed with his pistol, and snapped anyone’s neck he could get a hold of. “Jess,” called Fred. “”I found it, I found the staircase!” He turned a corner as he reloaded his pistol, and an Elite came out of the corner with an Energy Sword, lunging at Fred. No sooner had the Sword come within an inch of Fred’s neck had the Elite had its brains blown out.
“Got one,” said Jess. “Yeah, I can see the staircase now, I’ll call the others and see how they’re doing.” Jess reloaded her sniper rifle. “Jason, Gabriel, status report.”
“It’s going good up here,” said Jason, as he shot a grunt in the face. “Me and ol’ Gabe here are just holding up fine.” Gabriel rammed himself into an apartment door and tossed a grenade as he left the apartment, shooting anything there. “How’s Fred and Steven going?”
“Hold on,” said Jess. “I’ll check… Fred, how’s everything holding up back there?”
“I’m fine,” said Fred. “But I have no idea what’s going on with Steven… Jess, where are Jason and Gabe?” Jess scoped them out.
“They’re almost there,” said Jess. “I’m going to start heading over their.” As Jess started off to the staircase, being careful not to let her guard down, something caught her eye. She zoomed in on an Elite who was triumphantly holding something up. “Goddammit.”
Fred, Gabriel and Jason met up at the staircase. “Hey guys,” called Jess. “You’re never going to believe this. They’ve killed Steven.”
“What!?” cried Fred. “How the hell could they have killed him!?”
“I don’t know, an Elite chieftain has his head, his body must have fallen down to the bottom of the building. Either way, we’re going to have to leave now. This structure could collapse at any second.”
And with that, the Spartans regrouped and went up the staircase to the last level of the building. At the end of the level was a flight of stairs leading up to the rooftop, which they climbed up. “Ahh,” said Fred. “It’s nice to be out in this freezing weather, it’s invigorating!”
The sight the Spartans saw as they got to the roof was unbelievable. At the other end of the roof top, the leader of the Mind, Kajgorauhk, took refuge up there using makeshift life support systems. He had a stolen bubble-shield that was connected to a generator, heating inside, and a turret to protect him as he broadcasted his message to the solar system.
“My brethren,” said the Elite in his radio message. “We must band together, and stand up against this Heresy.” Fred started towards the crazed Elite. As he got closer, he noticed that the elite had some machinery strapped to his back, possibly and overshield. “The filthy humans, paired with we almighty Shangheili? This is blasphemy! We must rise to stop this madness, and-“ the crazed Elite was cut off as he was pulled out of his bubble by the neck.
“I don’t have that many questions,” said Fred. “Just this: Were the Hell is the next chapter?”
“I cannot tell you,” replied the Elite. “It is a secret that must be held dearly within all of the Holy Spirit.”
The Elite kicked off of the angry Spartan and ran towards the edge of the building. “I’d rather face my own death,” called out the Elite. “Than the death of my brethren!” And with that he jumped off the building.
“Oh no you don’t!” yelled Fred as he ran and jumped off the building. Once again, time seemed to slow down as his head was facing the warzone they were once on. He caught a glimpse of the spike grenade he had stuck into a pillar. He pointed his pistol at it, and fired. The bullet hit, spot on, the grenade exploded, and the building started to collapse.
Shards of the building flew out, and Fred took advantage of this opportunity. He kicked off a chunk of a pillar, and propelled into the Elite, which was now almost in his grasp. Just then he heard a loud thunk! and suddenly landed on something. It was the pelican sent to rescue them.
Later, all of the Spartans were taken home. “Steven, George, and Harry couldn’t make it,” said a commander. “They were all crushed under the building. On another topic, however, we interrogated the Shangheili leader, and he told us the next location to look for was. The ‘Body’ can be found somewhere near a little town in East Lafayette. But, Spartans, we won’t be sending you on this mission, we have a whole other team for that.”
/End Transmission
