Life as a Spartan Ch. 29

Life as a SPARTAN-III
Chapter 29
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Sword Base, Babd Catha Ice Shelf, Eposz

August 29, 2552 26:16 Hours

NOBLE Team and I finally arrive to the burnt and destroyed landscape outside Sword Base. A Falcon flies overhead as I walk out from a small hill. I walk down the rocky terrain.

"NOBLE One, this is NOBLE Actual. NOBLE One?" Colonel Holland said on the COM.

"Go ahead." Carter responded

"We need that base taken out, son. What's your status?" Holland asked

"Still outside. Thermal on the interior shows standing-room-only. We're gonna send'em out or we'll be way too popular." Carter said

"Copy that, NOBLE One. Holland out." Holland replied

I jump over some boulders and land beside three ODSTs. I look at them and they stare back.

"We've got a job to do, so let's stay focused and get it done. Six, are you in position?" Carter asked

"Affirmative." I reply.

"Good. Execute." Carter says.

I signal "halt" and then "follow me" with my left hand. The ODST fall in behind me and we take cover along the rocks.

"Targets." an ODST says and points them out.

Several Shade turrets, Heavy Grunts, and Ghosts patroled the area.

"Covenant own this sector now. They are defending for a full major strike, not a small-group infiltration. Eliminate all hostile anti-air defense so the rest of NOBLE can land at Sword Base for the torch and burn. Keep a low profile, we'll take them by surprise, this will be a hell lot easier." Carter said.

"SPARTAN, we'll follow you." the ODST sergeant said.

My small team moves down to the flooded Farragut Station in front of a Covenant outpost, comprising of a deployable lookout tower, Shades, a Ghost, and a group of infantry. A Falcon has crashed in the water between the generator and transmitter buildings.

"Falcon down. Watch for bodies." the ODST sergeant said.

We move past the Falcon and clear out the Covenant.

"Structure's cleared, Lieutenant." the ODST sergeant confirmed.

"Kat was right. It does seem like overkill. Sending us back here for a simple demo op?" Emile said on the COM

"ONI thinks its worth it. That tell you something?" Jun replied on the COM as well

"It tells me things ain't so simple." Emile replied.

We come across another deployable lookout tower and a Scorpion hidden from it.

"Looks like we have a Scorpion still operational, sir." an ODST points out.

More towers and Ghosts appear, but are soon eliminated by my team.

"Ready to get that anti-air whenever you are, sir." the ODST sergeant said

I clears the area of Covenant units before I move on.

"Area secure." an ODST says

"Get a move on, NOBLE Six. Our Falcons are standing by." Carter said.

My team finally reaches the Airview Base, now the dwelling of two Covenant Tyrant AA guns defended by Covenant troops, Ghosts and Banshees. An aerial battle between Banshees and Falcons rages above them.

The ODST sergeant sees them first "Enemy guns dead ahead, Lieutenant.

"Time to get to work, NOBLE Six. Take out those guns." Carter orders.

I drive the Scorpion closer and eliminate the Covenant units protecting the area. I get out the Tank and run inside and throw a grenade in the first AA gun's power core. It destroys the first AA gun.

"First target neutralized." the ODST sergeant says.

"Copy. Stand-by." Carter replied.

I then run to the next one and throw a grenade in there as well. Destroying it.

"Nice job, Six. Falcons commence descent. Meet you inside the base, lieutenant." Carter says

"Nice kill, SPARTAN!" an ODST says.

"Make sure they pay for Reach." the ODST sergeant replies.

Falcons fly over me and towards Sword Base. I continue to the Sword Base's gate with my team.

"NOBLE Team: Falcons landed, hostiles engaged. Jun is working on getting the gate open." Carter said.

"Really missing Kat about now..." Jun replied.

I get to Sword Base's gate area, defended by Covenant troops, turrets, and vehicles. I take out as much as I can but I get cornered on the gate.

"Got it. Gate's opened, boss." Jun said

"Six, get over here! Covies all over the base." Carter said.

I run through the gate and it closes in behind me. I break through the Covenant ranks and head for NOBLE Team.

"Tango, coming for the pad!" Emile warned

"Head for the garage!" Jun said.

"Double time it, Six! Come on!" Carter replied.

I finally arrive at Sword Base's courtyard. The rest of NOBLE Team is seen fighting Covenant troops.

"Just in time, Six." Emile remarked

"Kill them all, NOBLE!" Carter yelled.

NOBLE Team finish off the Covenant in the courtyard. We enter the base and clear out the entrance. NOBLE Team heads to a door at the end of the parking lot.

"Have to go through maintenance. Elevator's out." Carter says.

"The way this place is done, we're lucky anything still works." Emile commented.

NOBLE team enters the maintenance hall and climb up a series catwalks, engaging some Jackals on the way, finally arriving at the top and entering the security check, which has been severely damaged.

"Where we going now, boss?" Jun asked

"Dot?" Carter asked

"Please proceed to the prearranged coordinates." Auntie Dot replied.

"Cryptic..." Emile said

"You know as much as I do, NOBLE Four." Auntie Dot replied.

A door opens, and the team continues into Sword Base's main atrium.

"Coordinates nearby, Commander." Auntie Dot said.

"Alright, up the ramp, to the right!" Carter ordered.

We eliminate the Elite forces defending the atrium and continue to the coordinates. We come across a door with the ONI emblem on it.

"This is it, in here." Carter says.

NOBLE Team enters a corridor littered with dead bodies and destroyed equipment. An unmanned turret stands behind some sandbags.

"Looks like they got themselves cornered." Jun said observing the bodies.

"Or were committed to the position." Carter suggested.

Emile continues through the corridor: a dead end.

"I'm going with cornered. There's nothing here." Emile said and waved his arm to the empty space

"No load-bearing columns either. Sir, if we're suppose to blow this place, this ain't the spot to do it from." Jun said.

Carter accesses his TACPAD.

"Dot, check your vector." Carter said annoyed

"Vector confirmed, Commander. We are precisely where ONI has directed-" Dot began "Apologies. Coordinates revised. Please confirm?"

"Revised...?" Carter asked.

"By an AI of unknown origin, whose clearance is well above mine." Dot replied.

"Well, it's pointing us a klick and a half east and two thousand feet underground." Jun said.

"I didn't bring my shovel, Commander." Emile joked

"Sir, I say we go AI free on this one. Obviously, these coordinates are junk, and the longer we go chasing them-" Jun began to explain

A sudden grinding noise cuts Jun's sentence off. Everyone raises their weapons. A wall in the dead end opens, revealing a secret passage. Emile stands in front of it, securing the way ahead.

"What is this, Dot?" Carter asked.

"Our revised route, Commander." Dot replied.

"Alright, we came this far." Carter said.

Carter signals Jun to take point, and the rest of the team follow them into the hidden corridor. The team continues down the tunnel and find a tram.

"Your new AI friend tell you anything else, Dot?...Dot?" Carter began to ask.

"She's been expecting you." Auntie Dot replied.

"That's perfect." Emile said annoyed.

When we get in the tram Dr. Halsey, on a view screen, appears.

"Apologies for the unusual security measures, Commander. But the stakes demand it." Halsey said.

"Dr. Halsey. Casualty reports have you listed as-" Carter began

Halsey interrupted him "Yes. Well, as they say, news of my death has been greatly exaggerated. I only wish the same could be said of the rest of NOBLE Team."

"We all do, ma'am." Carter said as he looked back at us then back at her.

"It may please you to learn the data module NOBLE Two procured from Visegrad station contained precisely what my scientist promised: a latchkey discovery. It has unlocked, at last, the secrets of this excavation." Halsey replied.

"Not sure I understand." Carer says.

"Your orders were a pretext to bring you to me and have been overridden. You are here, Team NOBLE, to assure the delivery of this vital data to a secure location." Halsey said.

"Doctor, our orders are to destroy all sensitive material-" Carter started to say.

"Others will handle the demolition." Halsey interrupted

"I'll need to confirm this new directive with command-" Carter tried to say again

"Colonel Holland will be briefed. You belong to ONI now." Halsey interrupted again.

The elevator travels down to an ice cave. We look out the rest of NOBLE Team looking at a large artifact.

"Before you is an alien artifact neither human or Covenant in origin. Advanced beyond our comprehension...until now. Thanks to Noble Two, the decryption of its data is nearly complete." Halsey said.

Crumbling sounds shifted my attention to a few falling boulders from the cave's ceiling.

"Whatever we're doing down here, we better do it quick." Emile says

"Have your data ready, ma'am. We're coming to you." Carter replies to Halsey.

"The decrypting data is still underway..." Halsey said.

"I don't think you understand. We're out of time. If it isn't portable when we reach you, it's gonna get buried." Carter replied.

"Bury any of it, and you bury mankind's best chance of survival! Commander, you've been wondering what your Spartans died for? They died for this. Please. Buy me all the time you can." Halset said.

The elevator door opens, and we step out.

"Let's find Halsey's lab. Move!" Carter orders.
Noble Team moves out and explores around the cave complex. Four Wolf Spider turrets are located in different locations.

"Commander, I am seeing turrets already in defensive positions." Jun said.

"ONI was expecting company?" Emile asked.

Covenant Dropships begin their descent from the cave's ceiling.

"They sure as hell got it. Doctor, we have hostiles inbound." Carter warned.

"SPARTANs, you cannot allow the Covenant to break through the door to my lab." Halsey said.

"Understood. Let's give the doctor the time she needs." Carter said.

ONI Contraol then contacted us on our COM. "NOBLE Team, there are four defense turrets to assist you in defending the lab. Get them online, and quick! When the turrets take too much damage, they'll shut down to recharge. You'll need to reactivate them when they come back online."
We arrive at the lab's entrance. There are weapons holstered on the side and Mongooses parked near the entrance. Weapons crates and armor abilities at the side. Sandbags provide defense and we hold  our position there.

"NOBLE Six! Activate the turrets! Set up a perimeter." Carter ordered.

Covenant Spirits and Phantoms are heard as they enter the area.

"They are landing out of range, across the bridge!" Emile warned.

"I need more time. Whatever you do, do it." Halsey said.

After defending the entrance for a while, Phantoms dropped down Wraiths.

"We got targets! Watch out for those Wraiths!" Emile warned.

Brutes joined the Jackals and Grunts while Plasma Mortar rounds hit near the entrance. More Phantoms appear. Banshees enter the battlefield to aid their allies.

"Heads up, we got more trouble!" Jun said.

"Hold on, SPARTANs. I'm getting close." Halsey said.

NOBLE Team continues to engage wave after wave of Covenant troops.

"Another Phantom! Dropping troops to flank us!" Emile warned.

"Maybe we can grab a Banshee and bring the fight to them." Jun said.

I nodded and grabbed a jetpack and jumped to the top of the lab. I find a Banshee and jump on it. I open the top and kick out an Elite. He fell to his death and I commandeer the Banshee.

Ghosts and Elite Rangers join the assault.

"Package is almost ready. Just a little more." Halsey said.

More Phantoms approach, right outside the entrance.

"More Covenant! Get your defenses ready, Six!" Carter says.

A pair of Hunters and a lance of Covenant led by a Sangheili General are dropped from the Phantom right in front of NOBLE Team. They manage to kill the majority of the attacking Covenant troops.

"Well done, SPARTANs. I am opening the laboratory door." Halsey said.

"Door's opened, NNOBLE Six. Get to the lab." Carter says.

The door opens and we step in. We begin running into the corridor and reach the end of it: Dr Halsey's lab. A large sphere-shaped artifact hovers outside the lab.

"What is this stuff?" Jun asked.

Dr. Halsey, still in the middle of preparing the package, moves to another monitor.

Halsey answers him but doesn't stop working "Knowledge. A birthright from an ancient civilization. This AI is its custodian, and she has chosen you as her carriers.

Emile turns to Carter. "Chosen? By an AI?"

"By this AI, yes. Her measure of you carries as much weight as my own..." Halsey replied.

Dr. Halsey moves away from view, revealing an AI, who's chosen avatar appears to be a female human, roughly in her early twenties, with purplish/bluish skin, shoulder length purplish/bluish hair cut shorter at the back, and blue symbols scrolling down her almost nude body, in a holo-tank analyzing data.

"...Perhaps more. You are to take her to the UNSC ship-breaking yards in Aszod. There, you will find a Halcyon-class cruiser waiting to get her off planet." Halsey said.

"I understand." Carter said.

"Do you? Mankind is outmatched. When Reach falls - and it will fall - our annihilation is all but certain. Unless...we can glean from this artifact a defense against the Covenant. A game-changer. On the level of the conical bullet in nineteenth century, or faster-than-light travel in the twenty-third." Halsey replied.

"And what if we can't?" Carter said.

"An apt question if there were somewhere else to place our hope. There is not." Halsey replied.

Dr. Halsey looks at Cortana for one last time and shuts off her projection. Jun curiously looks at the lab as Dr. Halsey pulls out the data storage unit. Dr. Halsey, holding the unit with both hands, hands it over to me.

"Take it, Lieutenant... She has made her choice." Halsey said.

I look at Carter, who nods in response, and place my hands over the package.

"Do you have it?" Halsey asked

"Yes." I reply.

"Say the words, please." Halsey replied.

"I have it." I say.

Dr. Halsey lets go of the unit and I look at her.

Later that day we and Dr. Halsey walk out a tunnel leading to two Pelicans

"Dr. Halsey, NOBLE Three will escort you to CASTLE Base." Carter says.

"I require no escort, Commander-" Halsey began.

"Jun, make sure nothing falls into enemy hands." Carter said interrupting her.

"I'll do what's necessary, sir... Good Luck." Jun says.

"You too, rifleman." Carter replied.

Jun and Dr. Halsey head into one Pelican while Carter heads on to the other. Emile and I slowly walk back, securing the area. Carter climbs into the pilot seat of the Pelican and turns it on.

"I need a heading, Dot." Carter said.

"At three kilometers north, turn right. Heading zero-five-zero." Auntie Dot replied.

"Which leads to?" Carter asks

I walk into the troop bay while Emile sits down on the open troop bay door of the Pelican.

"The ship-breaking yard in Azsod. The only off-planet extraction point left on this continent. Small scale air attacks have decimated many convoys en route. An armada of Covenant cruisers have hastened to side as well. UNSC cruiser, Pillar of Autumn is waiting for your arrival." Auntie Dot replies.

Both Pelicans take off.

"Wouldn't be a NOBLE mission if it were easy." Cater said.
Emile shuffles backwards slightly as explosive charges detonate beneath the ice shelf, destroying what remains of Sword Base and the cave complex. The surrounding waters pour into the opening, flooding the excavation area.