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Fallen Angel: Part 1 Reunion
Date: 20 December 2002, 2:33 am

      Dear readers
      This series is the works of me, (Gruntkiller) and Covert. Both of us have worked hard in coming up with a premise and ideas for what we hope will be an overly successful series. To any readers of my revolution 2 series I will not be writing any more chapters for it, I hit a dead end with plot. But please give this series a chance me and covert have worked hard to make sure it is as enjoyable as possible. And now to the story.

      BANG! The door behind John was slammed shut by an elite. John now stood in the middle of a dark room wearing a dirty tattered once white robe, his skin was covered in blisters cuts and bruises from the near endless torture by his captors.

      Not even a month had passed since John had destroyed halo but to him it seemed like years. While John had waited in space for the engines of the long sword fighter to cool down he was caught. A Covenant dreadnought called the Rapier captured him when it was sent to see what had happened to the Covenant fleet that had attempted to take control of halo. Cortana seeing what had happened exterminated herself so that the Covenant could never learn her secrets. After his capture John was submitted to every form of torture the covenant could think of, from mental pain to physical pain the average human would of gladly accepted a painful death even if they only felt a fraction of the pain John had felt.

      John fell to his bloody knees on the hard metal floor of the dark room he collapsed to his side breathing heavily trying to control the pain that throbbed through his body.

      "Well if it isn't my old school friend," said a cold human voice from the darkness.

      Suddenly the room was light up by a bright white light revealing a steel table with two steel chairs at either end of it. In one sat a human wearing a black skin-tight suit.

      John sat there staring at the figure with the eyes of a man who had seen many painful sights.

      "Do you remember me John," said the figure.

      "It... it can't be...your dead," struggled John with fear in his voice.

      "The person you knew is dead," said the figure, "he died years ago in the Chi Ceti 4 system, you remember the corvette that you left for dead on."

      "You died in the explosion!" yelled out John now with disbelief in his voice, "it can't be, Sam died making sure that corvette was destroyed!"

      "The Sam you knew died there," said the figure, "and I was born."

      "How is this possible," asked John painfully.

      "Minutes before the explosion the Sam you knew was captured by several elites," said the man in a cold voice. " They escaped with him in a lifeboat. And then they showed him the truth. Thus bringing birth to me, the fallen Spartan Sam."

      "Truth?" asked John feeling weaker and weaker.

      "We are all here for a purpose John," said Sam, "mine and the Covenants is to clean the galaxy from the parasites that once drove the gods from their home. Once we are finished the gods will come again, and then we too will be elevated to their status."

      John was in shock; he could never in his most horrible of thoughts have come up with this. Now in front of him Sam stood up and walked around the table until he stood in front of John who was still on his knees.

      "Are you willing to give into the will of the gods," asked Sam.

      "Never, I will never betray my friends," said John now in so much pain tears are coming from his eyes.

      "Fine," said Sam taking a long metal shaft with a pointed barbed head from the table, he began to examine the head for any problems. "Do you know what this is John?"

      Before John could say anything Sam began to talk again, "this is an ancient tool used by the elite race. They called it a truth drawer."

      Sam looked up at John with an evil grin on his face, "its slowly driven through the flesh and bone into the heart, its covered in pain inducing chemicals strong enough to make even the hardest of spies to spit out everything form the location of their boss and what his arsenal contains right down to the scores of the local gravball teams. But why should I be telling you how it feels, your about to find out firsthand."

      Sam slowly brought the truth drawer down so that its tip touched John's chest. Pain shot up through John's chest almost making him double over in pain and the point hadn't even broke skin yet. John tried to fight back but his hands were tied behind his back with thick chains. Slowly Sam push inwards driving the truth drawer's point through Johns skin and into his flesh.

      The pain in John's flesh was the like a million white-hot knives all stabbing and twisting under his skin. John clenched his teeth as sweat rolled down his body, every vein in his body throbbed in pain. Slowly the truth drawer sank into his flesh, in scrapped one of John's ribs as it entered the chest cavity.

      "AHHHHHHHHHHH!" John screamed out in pain as the truth drawer began to pierce his heart killing him.

      John's body went limp and fell away onto the cold metal floor of the covenant dreadnought, the truth drawer's end stuck out of Johns chest almost like an arrow, blood flowing out of his mouth, and nose.

      "If only he had known how hopeless his cause was," said Sam as he walked over to John's body and hauled the truth drawer out of John's lifeless chest, "If only he had known."

Next: Escape

Fallen Angel: Part 2 Escape
Date: 29 December 2002, 2:52 am

Reach
2 _ months before John 117 death

Boom! The forest erupted in a plasma blue light as trees were instantly carbonized around the area where a Covenant artillery round landed. Josh's visor quickly changed color to protect him from the bright light that came from the blue plasma. Josh quickly fired off a three round burst in the general direction of the advancing Covenant troops.

Almost a half an hour earlier the Covenant had captured the fusion generator that powered the orbital super MAC guns now the Josh and the remaining Spartans along with a few Marines were being pushed back into the woods like a feather caught in an endless wind. The calls for medics had been almost endless since they entered the woods but no medic could ever help them all.

Josh fumbled with a clip as he reloaded his rifle, he quickly bent down and picked it up, just as he started to stand up again a fuel rod shot blazed over his head causing the sweat under his helmet to boil.

"Crap," said Josh as he quickly slammed the clip into his gun cocked it and brought it up to a shoulder mount.

Almost a hundred meters away from him a hunter stood deflecting the bullets with its shield. Josh carefully aimed his gun for a mall spot of exposed flesh on the hunter's neck and tightened his finger on the trigger.

Bang! Somewhere off to Josh's right a sniper rifle let out a loud report sending a smoke trailed straight through the same spot Josh was aiming for.

"Good shot," said Josh through his communicator.

"I could of done better," said Kelly.

      "We got to get off this damn planet," said Josh as he began to send out a distress signal on the FLEETCOM network. "This is Spartan Josh 87, requesting immediate evac. Repeat requesting immediate evac."

      Plasma bolts began to heat up the air, the covenant had found them. Josh quickly jumped in a crater left by a covenant artillery shot for cover.

      "This is UNSC cruiser Centurion, we have tracked your signal and are sending pelicans," replied the comm. In Josh's helmet, "how many need evac."

      "20 of us," said Josh ducking his head to avoid the oncoming onslaught.

      "Rodger the pelicans will land 400m east of your location, over and out," replied the comm.

      "Everybody take ammo and your weapons leave everything else behind," said Josh through his comm. To the Spartan's and the Marines.

      "Even the wounded," said Marine.

      "If you can carry them without falling behind take them, if you can't leave them," said Josh as he set up a NAV point for the EZ. "Now lets go."

      Josh got up out of the crater and fired off his rifle on full-auto at the advancing covenant forces, he managed to kill several grunts. Josh quickly began to retreat towards the clearing that was their EZ. All around him plasma flew most of it slamming into trees. He watched as a Marine in front of him was turned into a charred mass of flesh by a charged plasma pistol shot.

      Once they got within 200m of the EZ most of the small arms fire coming from the covenant had stopped. From overhead the sound of covenant artillery rounds could be heard as they began to descend upon the retreating soldiers. The first one hit the ground just off to Josh's right sending splinter of now carbonized trees everywhere. Another round landed right on top of a nearby Marine vaporizing him immediately. More and more of the plasma artillery rounds slammed into the earth sending huge plumes of blue superheated plasma mist into the air. 100m to go.

      Josh broke out into the clearing where the EZ was located behind him 10 Spartan's and the single remaining Marine followed, more and more artillery round ploughed into the ground leaving scorched earth everywhere. Up ahead two pelicans touched down with the open ends pointing towards the sprinting soldiers.

      The 11 remaining soldiers all reached the pelicans intact josh quickly hoped up into on and sat down in the seat closest to the hatch, right after him Kelly jumped in and sat down across from him and brought her sniper rifle up to her shoulder aiming out the hatch towards the tree line about a 100m away.

      "Good thing we got here when we did," said Kelly as the last Spartan climbed in and took a seat close to the cockpit.

      "Why," said Josh.

      Kelly pointed to the tree line at first everything looked normal but then Josh began to see hundreds of grunts and Jackal's running out of the trees towards the pelicans.

      "Everyone buckle up and prepare for lift off," said the pilot through their comm. Channel.

      The pelicans lifted up off the ground and rose up into the sky. Josh sat looking out the window in the back hatch that was closed shortly after they lifted off, on the ground it was pure mayhem. Off in the distance the HAVOK tactical nuclear device that they had planted at the beginning of the day went off covering reach in a bright white light.

      "It's hard to watch a place we once called home being destroyed," said Kelly interrupting Josh's train of thought.

      "Yes, but you always have to remember a place is just a place, its people that really make a difference," said Josh thoughtfully.

      The pelicans quickly ascended into orbit were the battle was quickly coming to a close, everywhere pieces of UNSC ships floated lifelessly, off in the distance blue plasma torpedoes could be seen mopping up the remaining ships that stayed in a hopeless attempt to protect reach. Far off in the distance the Pillar of Autumn sped off into slipstream on a journey that would soon touch Josh, Kelly and all the other Spartan's even though they were left behind.

      The pelicans made a sharp turn right towards the waiting cruiser Centurion. They slowed down and flew into the docking bays where they were quickly locked down. The Centurion then quickly went into slipstream and left the now being glassed over planet behind them.


      Next: First Move

Fallen Angel: Part 3: First Move
Date: 5 January 2003, 3:36 am

      A lone longsword fighter floated through the endless space. Inside sat a human wearing MJOLNIR armor with the rank Master Chief engraved upon it, but inside there is no Master Chief but Sam. Along the passage of the Longsword leading to the hatch 10 Special Ops elites sit with their arms bound behind their backs.

      "We are now entering Human space," said Sam examining the charts laid out on a holographic screen in front of him. "I'll send out a distress beacon that should get us aboard any nearby vessel."

      This was the mission Sam knew would give him the upper hand in this war. He had long ago gained a near god like status by commanding an army of the most experienced and skilled troops in the galaxy, every single one of them was ready to die for him in battle. He had gained such a high reputation that even drew the gaze of the grand priest most loyal servants towards him.

      Sam typed in the orders for a distress beacon to be sent out.

~

Aboard the frigate Minotaur

      "Sir were picking up a distress signal 20000km from here," said the Intelligence officer, "shall we investigate?"

      "What the hell would another vessel be doing out here on the edge of human space?" said Captain Arbier, "set a course for the beacon and send reply message."

      "Yes sir," said the Intelligence officer.

      "Course set, engaging in slipstream in 5," said the navigation officer.

      The space around the Minotaur glowed green and then it was gone.

~

      "There is a frigate on its way," said Sam staring at the return message from the Minotaur. "It is not to big and supports only a small crew so there should not be too much opposition for you."

      Outside only a few kilometers away the space turned green and a small frigate appeared.

      "This is the frigate Minotaur you sent out a distress beacon," said captain Arbier through the comm.

      "Yes this is John 117," sad Sam with an evil grin on his face hidden by his helmet, "I have covenant prisoners and need immediate transport to the nearest military installation."

      "Right away docking bay 1 is open for your ship to land in," said captain Arbier, "there will be the best Marines on this vessel down there to escort the prisoners to the holding block."

      The longsword slowly navigated through space and entered the docking bay, with a soft thump it touched down and the hatch opened up.

      Outside 15 Marines all holding their MA5bs' tightly watched cautiously as 10 black elites marched out of the longsword fighter to form a double line just outside the hatch. Behind them Sam walked out in John's MJOLNIR armor, at his side he wore a long curved sheath that contained a covenant made sword.

      "The captain wants to see you on the bridge," said one of the Marine's who Sam assumed to be the leader of the marines, "we'll take these covies down to the holding cells."

      "Good," said Sam as he walked past the Marines and into a passage which was marked with a red star meaning that it was the passage to the bridge.

      The passages of the ship brought back memories of his former life before he knew the truth, before he was freed by the covenant. With every step his target became closer and closer, he could almost feel its presence, it would be the key to his conquest to destroy the disease called humanity and to bring the Gods back to their former home, all he needed was the ships main computer.

      Sam walked into a room marked with a red star, all along the walls small alcoves were placed with workstations inside them, everywhere humans wearing different colored suits sat typing in commands, or reading data from the many sensors placed outside the ship.

      Sam walked through the room until he came across a man standing in front of a holopanel reading the latest orders from FLEETCOM.

      "Captain," said Sam.

      "Ah you finally arrived, good to see that another Spartan made it away from Reach," said the Captain.

      "How many Spartans survived," asked Sam in shock, he had thought that he had destroyed them all.

      "Only 10 of them made it off the surface but to see that their leader made it out alive changes everything," said Arbier with a smile on his face while watching the imposter MC.

      "No their leader died," said Sam pressing a button on his wrist.

      "What do you mean?" asked the Captain.

      All of a sudden a comm. Link from the Marines that were escorting the Elites opened up. "Sir the prisoners bonds came undone!" Yelled the squad leader, "they were carrying plasma sword hidden in wrist sheaths, were being slaughtered down here! AHHHHHHHH!" in the background the sounds of MA5bs could be heard and the screams of Marines as they were quickly being cut down by the Special Ops Elites.

      "Get every troops we have down there immediately!" yelled the Captain franticly.

      Sam put his hand on his sword and in one motion drew it and cut the Captains throat open. The Captain's throat spraying blood all over a holopanal as he fell to the ground. Sam quickly turned around and drove the tip of his sword into the nearest officer's stomach. The bridge was thrown into chaos as people everywhere scrambled to grab the nearest weapon or in a desperate attempt to escape the wraith of Sam.

      Sam quickly pressed a button at the captain's station closing the blast doors locking everyone in the bridge. Most people banged on the doors screaming trying to get them to open while some grabbed whatever could be used as a weapon and attacked Sam. Sam slashed stabbed and hacked all around him the broken bodies of officers and other bridge workers fell to the ground bleeding.

      Sam then once that all of those that opposed him were dead ran into the crowd of people banging on the blast doors trying to escape. The screams of people dying filled the air. Outside marines tried desperately to open up the blast doors using SPNKr missiles but all of their efforts were useless some of the marines could hear their friends being slaughtered through the door.

      The stainless steel floor of the bridge was covered in blood and bodies. The last of the officers was on his knees pounding on the blast door screaming and crying at the same time for the blast doors to open up.

      Sam walked up behind him and slowly drove his blood covered sword into the officer's back twisting it continuously tearing muscle and cracking bone until the officer's body went limp and collapsed. Sam was victorious.

In the lower levels of the frigate the scene was even worse for humanity, the black elites using plasma swords were cutting through anything that stood in their way. Hundreds of marines and crew lay dead in the passages behind them as they made their way to the bridge.

      In front of them a squad of marines came towards them firing their MA5bs the elites ran up and met them with plasma swords raised the squad was quickly turned into a heap of dead bodies.

      Within an hour the squad of 10 elites had made it to the bridge. Outside three Marines stood blasting away at the door with grenades and missiles trying to stop the near invincible Sam. The Marines were quickly eliminated with out a single drop of blood falling from the catalyzed veins of the Marines.

      Sam's first move was complete.

Next: Winds of doom

Fallen Angel: Part 4: Winds of Doom
Date: 12 January 2003, 1:43 am

      Word spread quickly throughout the galaxy of the UNSC frigate Minotaur and how it was captured. To the covenant it was reason to celebrate, the streets of the capital planet were flooded with parades celebrating the advance in the war. But to the humans it brought them a step closer to doom, onboard the Minotaur's main computer the coordinates to every human colony lay, since the ship had no AI construct the hard drives could not be destroyed in time to stop Sam from accessing them. Now every military vessel was being mobilized in a desperate attempt to track down and destroy the Minotaur before it reached a covenant planet.

~

      Josh sat on the dark rocky shore of a beach on Newfoundland a small island on the northern Atlantic Ocean. Behind him a military base made up of mostly hangers and barracks was scrambling to prepare their 8 wings of Longsword fighters and 3 wings of Pelican drop ships for the hunt for the Minotaur. The last few nights had been just like tonight. Mechanics scrambled to make the necessary adjustments to the fighters and drop ships, and marines carried out boarding drills incase they had to board the Minotaur.

      The sky was clear revealing thousands of stars, from there space looked so kind and inviting. A slight breeze came off the ocean caressing his face easing his tense mind. Josh knew what was at stake if this mission failed, the war was now in its darkest days if the Minotaur managed to escape them the war would become hopeless, if it wasn't already.

      The covenant armada was advancing faster and faster entire fleets of ships were being crushed. Suicide rates everywhere were on the rise, people just couldn't stand the idea of watching their species become extinct. Conscription was put in place anyone over the age of 16 who could fire a weapon was given basic training and sent to the fronts. Josh and the rest of the Spartans would be sent out tomorrow, they would once again return to the front to fight the seemingly invincible covenant army.

      Josh stared out onto the black ocean it was calm only a slight ripple from the breeze disturbed its surface. Josh took in a deep breath and then let it out slowly in an attempt to ease his mind. Since Reach fell he had been fighting continuously as everyday passed it became harder and harder to find any hope in his existence, he had watched as planets were glassed he had seen dozens of marines die slow and painful deaths on the field, every moment his existence seemed to become more and more pointless, humanity was dieing fast not even the greatest of generals could ever imagine the slaughter that was going on.

      Behind him he heard footstep on the rocky shore, he didn't bother to turn around and see who it was, he already knew by the pattern of footsteps. Kelly walked up behind him and sat down on a rock next to him. The two of them had been like a brother and sister ever since Reach, one always stood up for the other.

      "So what do you think," said Kelly looking up at the stars overhead.

      "Think about what?" asked Josh.

      "About the mission," said Kelly, "by the looks of it this will be more important then Reach."

      "I guess so, there's a lot that depends on the destruction of this one ship," said Josh.

      Josh had thoughts racing through his head but on the outside he looked calm, "Its almost ironic."

      "What," said Kelly.

      "That after the destruction of hundreds of huge cruisers and carriers, and the loss of dozens of major colonies that possibly the most important ship in the galaxy right now would be one small patrol frigate," said Josh.

      "Fate has a lot of strange twists," said Kelly.

      "I keep getting the feeling that things will get a lot worse before they get better," said Josh, "almost like there's something powerful out there that we have yet to discover, but still it knows about us."

      "I get that feeling too sometimes," said Kelly, "I guess that's the way everything goes."

      Josh stands up taking one last look at the stars above he turns around and walks back towards the barracks followed closely by Kelly.

Next: Chase

Fallen Angel: Part 5: Chase
Date: 22 January 2003, 9:25 pm

      The Cruiser Essex sped through Slipstream towards the rendezvous point with the rest of the UNSC armada onboard the Josh and the other Spartans sat around the equipment room cleaning out their weapons and their armor.

      "I hope we get there soon waiting is always the worst part," said a Spartan as he looked through a shotgun, "I hope we actually get our hands on the bastards who took the ship too."

      "Don't worry we'll get our share of the action," said Josh as he slipped on the boots of his armor. "Hopefully our share won't turn out to be on earth."

      Kelly standing behind Josh picked up her sniper rifle and quickly removed the barrel, carefully choosing from a case containing three other barrels she took out a shorter barrel only about half the size of the original one and screwed it into the gun.

      "I always wondered if something like this would happen," she said as she took a larger clip that could hold about 10 bullets out of the case and started to put bullets down inside of it. "I guess this is the day we have to face our worst fear."

      "We still stand a fighting chance," said Josh putting on his armored gloves.

      The door opened and a bridge officer walked into the equipment room.

      "There's been a change of plans," said the officer staring almost in awe at the Spartans, "the Minotaur was just spotted by an outpost, it appears to be heading across human space to the other side of our controlled space, towards Harvest."

      "So what are we going to do," said Josh turning around to face the officer.

      "We are being ordered to head to Harvest and attempt to engage the Minotaur there, it's slipstream drives are older so we should be able to beat it there,' said the Officer talking to Josh directly. "Our ETA is 8 hours, so you might as well try and relax your not going to get any time to once we reach Harvest."

~

      Harvest had been the first place the covenant engaged humans all that was left to it now was a glassed over planet and debris from the many ships that tried to repel the covenant invaders. Since it's glassing most ships both military, commercial and civilian would avoid the system as if it was the plague for fear that a covenant raiding party may be in the area.
      About a 100km away from the glassed over planet the Essex came out of slipstream.

      "Sir ETA for the Minotaur is 15 minutes, none of the other ships will be able to make it here before the Minotaur arrives," said the Intelligence officer, "we'll be facing it on our own."

      "Deploy all our fighters right away and have them prepared to engage any covenant craft in the area," said the Captain watching the glassed over planet though a screen in front of him. "Charge all our MAC cannons and have all safeties unlocked on all missile pods. Also just in case get a SHIVA ready we may have to catch this bugger quickly."

      "Yes sir," said the Weapons officer, "should we load up the pelicans incase we have to board."

      "Yes load them all up immediately," said the Captain, "boarding will be our last resort option."

      "Sir I'm picking up several slipstream signatures," said the Intelligence officer, "I can only identify on of them as being the Minotaur, all the others seem to be coming from the opposite direction. I think it may be a covenant rendezvous party here to get the Minotaur."

      "S***, ready the SHIVA were going to need it," yelled out the Captain.

      "Sir the Minotaur is coming out of slipstream in 10 seconds," yelled out the Intelligence officer as flashing red lights began to go off all over the bridge. "The Covenant have just came out of slipstream, there's two of them a cruiser class vessel and a dreadnought class."

      Down in the Spartan's equipment room a red light began to flash all of the Spartans quickly picked up their weapons and ran out of the room towards the docking bay.

      Josh led the group as everywhere around them Marines began to dash down for the bays, everything just went to hell.

      "Two covenant ships have just exited slipstream and are setting a course for us," said the intelligence officer through Josh's communicator in his helmet. "You will have to board the Minotaur while the Essex will try and distract the covenant long enough so that you don't get blown to hell on your way. Use any means available to destroy the Minotaur or at least wipe its computer."

      "Got it," said Josh as he pulled back the bolt on his MA5B.

      The Spartans due to their superhuman speed were the first ones to reach the docking bays, they quickly jumped into the nearest pelican. In the back of the pelican a long green bomb with a timing device was laid near cockpit entrance.

      "What's this?" asked Josh looking at it as the Pelican lifted off the ground.

      "A little gift from the Captain," yelled out the pilot, "the latest nuclear device devised by ONI just for this sort of thing. Its timer is exactly like a HAVOK's so it shouldn't give you much trouble to set."

      "Good, I'll take it," said Josh as he picked it up and slipped the carrying strap over his shoulder.

      The Pelican flew out of the docking bay and entered the hell that had just begun out side. All around the pelicans Longswords jetted off towards the approaching covenant ships. The first wave of enemy Serphs quickly met with the Longswords and a huge dogfight ensued. The Essex was already firing off its MAC cannons in a desperate attempt to distract the covenant. A huge plasma torpedo scorched past the Essex just barley missing it.

      "This is gonna be rough were going to have to ram through the docking bays airlocks so hold on," yelled out the pilot.

      Up ahead the Minotaur just seemed to be standing still in space its engines appeared to be shut off but the exterior signal light seemed to be still on.

      The Pelican slammed into the airlock doors the shock was so hard that only the pilot who was wearing a quad anchor safety belt wasn't thrown forward. The Pelican managed to tear the airlock doors apart leaving a space big enough for the others to make it through. The inside of the bay seemed to be lifeless there was no sign that any enemy had been awaiting them. The Pelican quickly landed and opened the back hatch all the Spartans protected by their suits from the airless environment piled out and quickly set up a perimeter while the other Pelican's unloaded their Marine's who were protected by environment suits.

      From outside through the punctured airlock door a bright white light flows through causing everyone to squint the **** just hit the fan.

Next: Hunters

Fallen Angel: Part 6: Hunters
Date: 3 February 2003, 11:34 pm

      Outside the seemingly dead Minotaur the battle to buy time was quickly coming to an end, most of the longsword bombers were now destroyed or disabled. The Essex a once magnificent cruiser floated in space barely able to keep its life support systems going. Fires raged across every deck well at least the ones that weren't destroyed by the particle lasers and plasma torpedoes from the two enemy ships which remained relatively unscratched even after taking hits from MAC rounds and a SHIVA nuclear missile.

      Inside the Minotaur the Spartans and Marines quickly moved up the halls and towards the bridge where the computers were being held, another group was headed for the lifeboat bays to stop any covenant from escaping.

      Josh peered around a turn in a passage, everything was quiet they had only seen the occasional dead Marine in the passages on their way but not even a drop of covenant blood could be seen anywhere.

      "All clear," said Josh in a hushed voice to the other Spartans who crouched on their knees in a basic formation for boarding ships.

      Josh quickly got up and moved around the corner quickly taking cover behind a pillar, Kelly was the first one behind him she used her scope to inspect the far end of the passage were the bridge was supposed to be.

      "Theirs a lot of bodies down there," said Kelly crouching down next to Josh. "They seemed to have been killed with plasma swords like the others."

      "Move up," said Josh as he began to walk up the passage crouching while sticking close to the wall. Behind him the squad of 11 Spartans spread out following him in a straight line.

He came to a stop at the entrance to the bridge using a hand signal to communicate with his squad he told them to set up a perimeter around the entrance and to investigate with caution.


      Josh quickly stepped around the corner and pointed his gun towards the far corner of the bridge. Underneath his feet something made a grotesque slurping sound, Josh looked down to see a horrifying sight. The floor was covered in bodies with ripped open throats, and body parts. Half coagulated blood covered the deck making the floor slippery. Josh looked down, underneath his helmet his face went pale, cold sweat rolled down his face as his stomach began to urge him to throw up. On the floor right were he had just stepped in a Bridge Officer's intestines hanging out of the dead bodies abdomen lay on the cold steel floor with the imprint of a foot in them. The officers body was pale from blood lose his hands were over his abdomen suggesting a slow and painful death. Kelly rounded the corner and stopped right behind Josh looking down now at the gruesome display of butchery laid out before them.

      "God," said Kelly not able to look away from the bodies that covered the floor.

      "Lets get the hard disks and get the hell out of here," said Josh, "with any luck the covenant didn't get them first."

      Josh moved up the bridge carefully trying to step around the bloody bodies of his fallen comrades. Outside the bridge the other Spartans set up a perimeter but most of them were distracted looking in at the blood covered bridge. Josh walked over to the captain's station, on the station wall inside a panel close to the floor the hard disks were supposed to be stored for easy access.

      "Crap," yelled out Josh. The panel was open but inside the hard disks were already gone. "Everyone split up into two groups, group one search the ship kill any covie that you see. Group two head back the docking bays, disable or capture any operable ships, I want there to be no way for these sons of bitches to get off!"

      "Sir," said a Marine through his comm. "The covenant have reached the lifeboat bays, there appears to be 9 elites all using swords and one Spartan!"

      "What?" said Josh thinking he misheard what the Marine had said.

      "A Spartan he's wearing the armor" said the Marine as MA5Bs fired off behind him. "He's attacking us with a sword made out of metal!"

      "Stay calm I'm sending up some Spartans to help you out, over and out," said Josh his mind racing trying to come up with some possible explanation.

      "Change of plan, group 1 get up to the lifeboat bays and help out those Marines," said Josh. "If possible capture the Spartan alive, but if you can't destroy him."

      Josh turned around to face Kelly, something caught his eye though as he turned, a distortion in the light behind Kelly. Josh raised his MA5B pointing it over Kellie's shoulder and fired. The blue light of a plasma sword quickly covered the bridge as the elite that had ambushed them drove his sword into Kelly before she could even turn around.

      Josh grabbed her with one hand and threw her off to the side away from the hidden enemy, while with the other hand kept the trigger down pumping dozens of bullets into the elite. In a flash the elite was revealed as it's camouflage chip was destroyed by a bullet. The Elite crumpled over and fell to the floor, its blood flowed freely mixing with the half coagulated blood of humans to create a strange purple color.
      Josh dropped his rifle and ran to Kellie's side he dropped to his knees and yanked his helmet off his head to reveal the pale skin underneath glistening with sweat. Slowly he pulled Kellie's helmet off to revel her face clenched in pain as her she attempted to stop the bleeding with her hands.

      "Your going to be OK," said Josh trying to calm Kelly. "I need two syringes of biofoam now!" yelled out Josh to the medic of the squad who quickly took two cylindrical containers containing the syringes out of his satchel.

      The medic took the first syringe and inserted it through the wound in the front of Kelly were the sword had come out.

      "This is going to hurt," said the Medic as he carefully flipped Kelly over on the blood soaked floor and inserted the other syringe into the wound were the sword had entered.

      "This won't due for long," said the Medic, "if she doesn't get to a medical post soon she's going to die."

      Josh not able to hold back his tears any longer burst out crying. The salty droplets of water ran down his as he kneeled over Kelly. The Essex was destroyed and there wasn't another medical facility within 900,000 km of them.

      Kelly looked up at Josh she was no longer in pain due to the powerful painkiller in the biofoam, her eyes were already beginning to haze over. She lifted her hand up and put it on Josh's shoulder, a tear slowly flowed down Kellie's face the tear flowed down onto Kellie's cheek then dripped off onto the blood-covered floor. Her neck relaxed and her head sank down until it came to a rest on the floor.

      Josh crying leaned over and kissed her on the forehead he then closed her eyes. He slowly stood up he had stopped crying but his eyes were bloodshot from the salty liquid, He turned around and grabbed the metal bar in the Elite's dead hand and began to run leaving his helmet, gun, and tactical nuke behind, his squad chased him as he navigated the passages towards the lifeboat bays.

      Josh followed the sound of echoing gunfire coming from the Marine's as they continued their helpless stand against the enemy. As Josh rounded a corner he came face to face with an Elite that leaned against a wall bandaging a bullet wound in its arm. Josh quickly pressed a button on the metal bar he carried and activated it, all around the walls glowed blue as he swung the plasma sword quickly decapitating the helpless elite.

      Josh quickly turned and ran towards the gunfire and screams that appeared to be coming from around the next corner. As he reached the area of conflict he found himself behind the covenant squad. Near the front of the squad a Spartan fighting with the covenant swung a metal sword around deflecting several bullets he then thruster with the sword putting it through a Marine's neck. Josh raised his sword and ran towards the Spartan.

~

      Sam pulled his sword out of the Marine's neck, it was an easy kills their inadequate armor and weapons made swords an especially good counter. Behind him he heard the clanking of armored boots on the metal floor and the screams of elites saying, "they flanked us."

      Sam quickly spun around and parried with his sword stopping the enemy's plasma sword just inches away from him. Sam looked at his opponent quickly shock quickly filled his mind.

      Before the conquer Sam stood one of his old friends now enemies, his old school mate, now locked in combat Sam could see the fire in his ex-comrades eyes. Sam quickly slashed with his sword cutting Josh's face. Sam had thought he had killed everyone except John on Reach, he had been told that the Spartans were crushed by his legions, heads would role for this. The Spartan who Sam know identified as Josh lifted his sword in the air and brought it down towards Sam's head but the attack was quickly stopped by Sam's sword.

      "So you still believe in this lost cause," said Sam struggling to gain control over the deadlock they were now stuck in, "I'm not surprised, you were always a bit stubborn, Josh."
      When Josh heard this it was almost like running into a brick wall, his mind raced trying to figure out what his opponent had just said to him. "Who are you!" yelled out Josh to the opposing Spartan.

      "I was once your friend," said the Spartan, "you used to call me Sam."

      This made things even worse for Josh he was in shock, "how you died."

      "The Sam you knew died," said Sam grinning underneath his helmet, "and then the Sam you see now was born."

      Sam quickly pulled his sword away from Josh's and ran through the squad of Marine's who continued to battle the rest of the covenant boarding party.

      "Stop him!" yelled out Josh as he ran after Sam.

      Almost every Marine that had a shot at Sam fired but the Spartan's shield was two strong. Several Marines ran out inform of Sam in a desperate attempt to stop him but with a few slashes of a sword all his opposition was gone. Sam ran towards a nearby lifeboat and quickly ran in closing the hatch behind him. Josh skidded to a stop and in a last resort attempted to open the door using his sword. On the other side of the door Sam climbed into the pilots seat and pressed a button closing the lifeboats main hatch and launching it away from the Minotaur. Josh watched as the lifeboat sped off towards the covenant ships that were in orbit around the glassed planet.

      Inside the last of the elites were killed, the Minotaur had been saved, but there mission was a failure.

Fallen Angel: Part 7: The Council
Date: 11 February 2003, 1:23 am

      For the covenant the Minotaur had been the greatest success since the joining of the races under a common name but along with it old failures were revealed.

Covenant capital planet Crige

      "May you one day mingle with the gods grand general Sam," said a Jackal wearing a long robe. He was one of thirty of Sam's personal council who now all sat at a table facing Sam who sat on a throne place on a raised platform.

      The Hall of Generals where the council was taking place had been Sam's home since he joined the covenant, it was attached to the main temple were the Grand Priest resided. The hall was made up of white marble and gold, white to resemble the pure intents of the covenant and gold to represent the power of the covenant.

      "This victory is great but there is something that plagues my mind," said Sam while sitting on his throne.

      "What may that be?" said an elite.

      "While I was leaving the Minotaur I was confronted with a rather unusual thing," said Sam.

      "What would that be," said the same Elite.
      "I was told that all the Spartans were eliminated on Reach with the exception of 117 who I destroyed personally," said Sam in a dark voice, "but on the Minotaur I confronted a squad of Spartan's, how could this be my most trusted general who sits right here in the council told me that the Spartans had been crushed."

      "I can assure you that every Spartan on Reach was killed," said an Elite in a nervous voice, "there must have been a new group of Spartans created without us knowing."

      "How dare you lie to me," said Sam, "these weren't any soldiers, these were my old squad mates."

      "How could this be I was told by my subordinates that the enemy had been crushed," said the Elite who was now obviously shacking in fear.

      "Both you and I know that that is not true," said Sam in a disappointed voice, "you always collect the neural implants from your troops after every battle."

      "Yes...sir," said the Elite on the edge of collapsing mentally.
      
      "Bring me the implants, if I feel that you were deceived by them I will let you live," said Sam as a evil grin crept across his face, "but if I find that you have lied to me you will die a most dishonorable death."

      "I will sir," said the Elite getting up from the table slowly backing away, he then turned around and walked quickly trying not to run out of the hall.

      "This should be a lesson to everyone here," said Sam, "liars will not be tolerated."

      The entire council went quit for a minute fearing that if they spoke they too could be labeled traitors, off to one side a Grunt stood up and cleared his throat.

      "The fleets worry that the humans may send out ships on suicide missions," said the Grunt, "it is only a small concern but it could cause major setbacks if fear does spread."

      "Tell them that humans do not have the sense of honor for something like that," said Sam.

      "Yes sir that is a very good point," said the Grunt, "it will destroy any thoughts of failure among the fleet."

      "Good," said Sam.

      An Elite stood up form the other side of the table, "Sir my scientists tell me that the decoding will be done in a day, then all of the ships information will be open to our disposal."
      
      "Good," said Sam in a grim voice. "I want all fleets on standby for attack unless directed otherwise by me. That will be all for today, I must consult with the Grand Priest on the impending invasion."

      Sam got up and walked out of the hall into a connecting passage to the main temple, as Sam walked fury began to build up within him for the traitor. Eventually Sam reached the other side of the passage, which exited out just to the side of the Priest's throne.

      "Sam you come with news of the invasion," said the Priest from his throne. "I take it everything has gone as planned."

      "More or less," said Sam, "the drives should be decoded by tomorrow then we can begin the attack."

      "Good," said the Priest, "tell the fleets not to glass the planets unless directed by me."

      "Of course sir," said Sam.

      "The planet earth will make a great gift to the Gods upon their arrival," said the Priest, "and for them we must cleanse it, none of our bio-advanced soldiers will be used, only us the creations of the Forerunner will carry out their deeds."

      "No hunters sir," said Sam in an unsure voice, "we could reduce casualties if we use them."

      "Only us the creation of the Forerunner can do this task," said the Priest, "and because of that we will go without tank ghost or banshee, not even the machines we produce can match the abilities the Forerunner have given us."       
      
      "Yes sir it is the will of the Gods" said Sam as he bowed to leave.

      "And Sam," said the Priest from his throne, "ready my dreadnought, I will also be present for this grand victory."

~

      The next day the atmosphere at the Council was tense today the Elite Barcil who was accused the day before of lying to Sam would bring fore ward the neural implants from Reach.

      "Barcil," said Sam, "if these implants prove that you have lied to me you will die by truth drawer."

      The entire room went silent, to be killed by a truth drawer was considered the ultimate disgrace, the long metal shaft covered in pain inducing chemicals could make the most honorable of Elite's swear at the gods. Barcil handed the implants over to Sam his hand was shaking uncontrollably. Sam quickly put the small disk into a handheld display and pressed a button.

~

      "Move up!" yelled the elite who had the implants, the screen showed a snow covered ground of the destroyed forest on Reach through which Josh and the Spartan's had retreated.

      "There up ahead," yelled a grunt in front of the Elite.

      "Open fire," yelled out the Elite. Plasma flew through the forest mostly missing the enemy troops.

      The squad of covenant broke out running in an attempt to keep up with the Spartans. The squad broke out into a clearing, up ahead a pelican lifted up off the ground and flew into the sky. Behind them there was a bright flash and the recording was over.

~

      Sam put the display on a table behind him and picked up a truth drawer, Sam slowly turned around and in a quick stabbing motion put the tip into Barcil's chest.

      "You are a disgrace Barcil," said Sam walking up to the Elite who was slowly curling over in pain. "May you and your entire family spend eternity among humans."

      Minutes later when Barcil finally died his body was picked up by Sam's personal guard and brought out to the courtyard in front of the temple were is body would be vaporized by a plasma fire.

      "His death was for the good of the Covenant race," said a Jackal.

      "Yes," said Sam sitting back down in his thrown.

      "Sir, decoding has been completed a map of all human space has been completed," said an Elite.

      "Good, bring it up on the Holo display," said Sam.

      "Yes sir," said the Elite as he slipped a small disk into a computer in front of him.

      A large holographic map appeared in front of Sam on it marked by red dots the location of every human colony, near the center of the map a large red dot with the name Earth placed above it floated.

      "Good," said Sam. "Tell the fleets to begin the siege of Earth. No glassing, this we offer to the Gods when our noble endeavor is complete."

Next: The Final Jihad

Fallen Angel 8: The Final Jihad
Date: 12 March 2003, 7:25 PM

Fallen Angel Part 8:
The Final Jihad

The entire UNSC fleet was on the retreat. After the defeat at Harvest almost all hopes of victory disappeared. Now every ship that could fly was being outfitted with weapons. The larger freighters were filled with nuclear and high explosive warheads in the hope that by detonating them they could destroy a few enemies. On the surface of Earth every weapon that could still operate was given to citizens in the hope that if there was a ground invasion it could be stopped, but many looked to the skies knowing were the real threat loomed.

~

Josh held his head with his hands, he looked down at the ground depressed. In his mind thought ran rampant, "its all your fault," said many voices in his head. Ever since the defeat he kept away from the other Spartans he tried to find something to blame it on but every time he ended up blaming himself. Many times his thoughts wandered back to Kelly, he tried to imagine what she would of done, he wished that it would have been him that got hit, but then he told himself that he could never but his friend through the same pain.

"God damn it," said Josh throwing a book on a table in front of him across the room.

A off to Josh's side opened up and a Marine walked in cautiously after hearing the slam of the book hitting the wall.

"Sir," said the Marine.

"Yes," said Josh not looking up.

"Your wanted in the briefing room," said the Marine.

"I'll be there in a minute," said Josh getting up but still not looking at the Marine.

"Yes sir," said the Marine as he cautiously walked away.

Josh got up from the chair and walked out the door towards the briefing room.

~

"Outposts HG8 and HG9 have picked up massive amounts of covenant ship in slipstream heading towards Earth," said a Officer sitting at one side of the oval table which was now surrounded by commanders and high ranking officials from the Earth defense force (which was pretty much every ship).

"This isn't good, I want those orbital MACs working in the next hour," said a general.

"Yes sir," said the officer typing a message into a small computer in front of him.

The doors opened up and Josh walked in wearing his armor. He quickly walked up to the table and sat down in the one empty chair.

"You wanted me," said Josh.

"Yes," said the general. "I want you and all the other Spartan's to join the ground defense force, you will be no use up here but if the covenant do attack using troops we will need all the men we can get."

"I understand sir," said Josh.

"Good gather your men and get down to the surface," said the general, "the CO on the ground will tell you what to do."

"Yes sir," said Josh as he got up from the table and walked towards the locker room.

~

"This will be our victory!" yelled out Sam to the thousands of covenant that filled the docking bays.

The covenant all wore marble white armor, upon it three forerunner symbols were engraved, the first one stood for purity, the second one for peace and the third one for power. Every covenant wore this armor right down to the lowest grunts.

"This is our time to show the Gods that we are there greatest achievement!" yelled out Sam. "We will prove that machines and hunters do not come close to comparing with the skills the gods gave us!"

The covenant soldiers yelled back in support.

"Now go conquer the humans and stand triumphant over their dead bodies!" Said Sam.

The battle ground down below began to load up into drop ships. There were 10 000 soldiers on this ship and all together combined with the troops onboard all the other ships they numbered 10 billion strong.

Sam turned around and walked from the podium high above the bay floor, he walked through a door into his personal equipment room. Laid out in a table was a black skintight body suit with ceramic implants in it to protect the back, chest and legs. There was no helmet so that the enemy could see who was their conquer. Sam quickly put on the armor and attacked the sheath for his sword to the waist.

"Sred Ijal Hajid," said Sam to himself. The closest it could be translated to is To Avenge My Captors.

The Covenant fleet quickly exited slipstream, the battle had begun.

Next: Invasion

Fallen Angel 9: Invasion
Date: 16 March 2003, 11:25 PM

Fallen Angel Part 9:
Invasion

"All men to battle stations," yelled out the Captain of the heavy cruiser Atlantic.

All over the ship red lights began to flash as hundreds of red ships appeared on the radar screens just past the moon. Men scrambled as reports began to come in from the first intelligence reports.

"Sir there appears to be over 1000 enemy ships," said the ship's AI, "they all appear to have increasing power levels and there are reports that a bombardment of the moons orbital defenses has begun."

"Bring us around to face them," said the Captain, "charge all MAC cannons and disengage all safeties for all ARCHER pods. Get those SHIVA missiles online!"

"Right away sir"



Sam boarded a large transport craft holding communications equipment and the supplies that would soon make up the primary HQ for the invasion, around him many of his finest soldiers boarded quickly sitting down in the seat that lined the walls of the transport.

"Sir the LZ has been chosen by the Grand Priest," said a Jackal holding an information tablet, "you can examine it on the way down."

"Good," said Sam as he took the tablet and looked down on to its glowing surface. The location on the map of earth's surface was depicted by a red circle with a dot inside it. The dot was placed on a region known as Greece by the sea near a valley named Thermopylae. Sam smiled to himself as he sat down slipping the tablet into a pocket on his leg.

Outside the covenant armada drew closer to earth as huge balls of superheated plasma slammed into the colonies that inhabited the moon glassing over its surface. Up ahead between them and earth a huge mass of UNSC ships sat in a wall formation as thousands of fighters quickly gapped the space between the two opposing forces. Hundreds of small anti-fighter turrets powered up and took aim releasing a fury of hundreds of thousands of plasma bolts upon the oncoming swarm. Quickly following the first wave of fighters a large group of about 20 transports ranging from small carryalls to large slip space barges flying at the battle group at full speed.

"Torpedo tubes ready!" yelled out a grunt from a battle station onboard the covenant battle frigate Light.

"Fire all torpedoes," yelled out the captain Elite.

Outside dozens of plasma torpedoes were launched from the covenant ships setting off huge explosions as they collided with the oncoming kamikaze ships.


On the ground Josh listened to the early battle reports as the main UNSC battle group lunged head on into the massive covenant offense. Most of the fighters had been destroyed even before they reached the covenant fleet and the few lucky ones were ripped apart by covenant fighters that had lay in wait using the capital ships shields for cover.

"Sir your squad is ready," said a Marine from behind Josh.

"Good I'll be out in a second," said Josh as he picked up his MA5B and walked out of the small military tent.

They were stationed in the former Iraq which held great strategic importance due to its many power plants and arms manufacturing facilities. Hundreds of years before the country America had taken it over but soon lost it as a great opposing force grew in Eastern and Western Europe which eventually crushed the super power. Ever since then the area had concentrated in manufacturing weapons and as a result contained many of the largest arms research labs in the galaxy.

Josh walked out onto the sandy terrain and turned towards his small squad of 10 Spartans all standing in a single line at attention.

"Our orders are fairly simple," said Josh standing in front of the squad. "In the very likely event of a ground invasion we will be ordered to locate and destroy the enemy's main communications and supply points hopefully crippling their forces."

Every Spartan stood dead still not even wavering under the intense desert sun. Every single one of them had been survivors of Reach and of many other great campaigns in this seemingly hopeless war, every one of them accepted that death could take them at any moment and that the odds of their success was almost 0, but still they stood unwavering and undaunted.

"As you may have heard this area is a very likely target for invaders and any covenant main HQ could be set up within this region due to its lower population and very accessible resources," said Josh now walking up the line looking closely at every Spartan looking for any fault in them but he found none. "Good, I would suggest that everyone gather in the map rooms to get an idea of the local area. Dismissed!"

All of the Spartans walked away towards various tents, over head several pelicans came in towards the air strip to unload a group of militia who would help defend the area. As the men dressed in sandy colored fatigues jumped off and walked in almost a daze as they walked towards a tent not far from the strip. Josh stood there and watched these doomed beings as they prepared for their final struggle.


In space the UNSC fleet was being butchered particle beams tore through the hulls of ships as the fray of UNSC and covenant ships became more and more entangled. From his ship the God's Word the Grand Priest watched as his fleets turned the enemy craft into space junk. The battle was deeply tilted towards their success, so much that the first carriers which were stationed behind the fleet made their way around to unleash the first waves of drop ships.

"Sir the first waves are ready to be unleashed," said an Elite bowing before the Grand Priest, "the last of earth's orbital defenses have been destroyed and in the confusion of battle the humans won't notice our drop ships before it's too late."

"Good," said the Grand Priest shifting his position in his throne, "tell them to proceed with the ground assault."

"Yes Sir," said the Elite as he walked backwards up until he had exited the room.

Next: Ground

fallen angel 10: Ground
Date: 30 March 2003, 4:43 PM

Fallen Angel 10:
Ground

       The battle in space was quickly coming to a close, the UNSC fleet had been crushed and the few lucky ships that survived were running to the outskirts of human space to try and regroup and commence another strike. Covenant carriers were now releasing millions of drop ships and heavy transports loaded with troops and supplies towards the blue planet.

       "We are now entering the atmosphere," said the pilot of the Heavy transport that Sam was onboard. "Touchdown in 5 minutes, there appears to be little activity in our landing region."

       "Good, put us down next to the ocean," said Sam to the Pilot.

       "Yes Sir," said the Pilot as he slowed down the transport and brought it down so that it was just above the ocean. The land up ahead was covered in long grass and twisted cypress trees, it was the typical environment for the area. There was a large valley that opened up about 500m from their landing zone the valley was lined with steep cliffs about 100m high. Any attacking force would have to approach from the sea or through the valley making them very susceptible to enemy fire.

       The heavy transport landed and quickly opened up its main hatch, dozens of Elites ran out firing at any suspicious objects and quickly setting up a perimeter. Two other drop ships landed on either side of the heavy transported quickly unloading their troops and supplies and taking off again to make room for more drop ships which were on their way.

       Sam jumped down from the transport and starred at the landscape, a smile crept across his face.

~

       "We have landfall!" screamed out the radio as the easy to depict sound of guns and plasma weapons firing off behind him, "I repeat the covenant have made landfall!"

       Josh quickly grabbed his MA5b and loaded a bullet into its chamber, he quickly turned around and walked out of his tent. Off in the distance drop ships could be seen making landing approaches about 100km away. Soldiers were rushing about the camp loading up into tanks and warthogs. The small group of Spartan's came running out of their tent loading their weapons and shoving clips into their belts and strapping single shot rocket tubes to their backs.

       "Form up," yelled out Josh, the Spartans quickly formed up and came to attention. "The Covenant have landed we need to get to the nearest landing site ASAP and eliminate all covenant, fortunately we don't have to go far. Several drop ships have landed not far from here as you most likely have seen. The closest pelican is reserved for us, move it!"

       Within minutes they were flying over the dessert heading towards the battle that was already taking shape up ahead. There was still drop ships coming in and landing leaving a huge ground battle. About 300 covenant all wearing white armor were diving for cover while firing off their weapons into the Marines who were doing the same. Behind every bit of cover support gunners fired off their heavy machine guns mowing down any unlucky covenant who hadn't found cover.

       "Its going to be hot," yelled out the pilot as several plasma rounds struck the side of the pelican as it began to come in for a landing.

       The pelican quickly came to a stop above the ground and all of the Spartan's jumped out firing their guns at the covenant battle group that was now retreating over into a nearby dried up river bed. As the last few covenant fell out of site over the edge of the river bed the soldiers jumped up from their cover and ran for the river bed to get at the covenant force. Josh watched in horror as he screamed out for them to stop but it was too late, as the first soldiers reached the lip of the bed, they quickly fell back their armor melded with their skin. The rest of the soldiers kept on running and soon met the same fate. The covenant had lay in wait on the other side of the bank shooting anything that came up over the edge. Quickly dozens of humans fell screaming in pain as they died cruel deaths from plasma burns or needler rounds exploding in their bodies leaving mangled and bloody flesh behind.

       The remaining soldiers had fallen back and had their guns trained on the edge of the bank. A plasma pistol flew just over their heads missing Josh by a few inches. Josh quickly turned around to see a force of about 100 covenant coming towards them in a bloc formation with Jackals up front using their shield to stop enemy fire. The soldiers now distracted turned and opened up on the new threat.

       Josh fired his weapon and lay down on the ground to make less of a target. He watched as several needler rounds got through a Spartan's armor, the rounds exploded in a huge purple explosion ripping the Spartan into pieces.

~

       "All fronts are advancing, the isle of Britain has already been taken and Northern America is almost ours," said an Elite from his comm. Station to Sam who sat reading an information tablet.

       "Good, send more troops the middle eastern region of the planet that's where there seems to be the most resistance," said Sam putting down the tablet and standing up. "Ready my drop ship I will join the fronts there."

~

       Josh jumped off the back of a Pelican and ran towards the command tent. Not long before they had been forced to retreat from their former position near the river bed, they had become sandwiched between the two covenant groups and suffered huge casualties.

       It was now night and off in the distance the reports of various weapons accompanied by the occasional grenade could be heard. The covenant had been advancing fast, already Europe was almost completely taken and Asia was falling fast. Josh reached the tent and ran in.

       "Sir they can't hold much longer out there we need support fast," said Josh to the General who sat at a table facing the wall of the tent.

       "And what do you propose we do?" said the General in an annoyed voice, "launch air strikes! Our entire fleet was destroyed, Artillery! Their lines are too close! Face it there's nothing we can do."

       "Sir we have a whole armored brigade on hold," said Josh.

       "That's for something else we can't use it now they'll be destroyed," said the General looking up at Josh.

       "With all do respect sir our soldiers are being slaughtered out their, they need armored support if their going to at least hold the covenant off," said Josh with frustration in his voice.

       "Very well then take them!" yelled out the General throwing a pile of papers off his desk.

       "Thank you sir," said Josh.

       "DON'T YOU THANK ME!" yelled out the General veins popping out of his forehead but Josh was already gone bounding across the field to where the tanks laid already on with their crews examining the battle through scopes.

Next: Little Relief

Fallen Angel 11: Little relief
Date: 6 April 2003, 7:59 PM

Fallen Angel 11
Little Relief

The covenant where moving quickly billions of humans had been killed and continents had already been captured not even 48 hours into the invasion. On the covenant home world words of victory already rang out through the streets as covenant began already to offer praise to the gods for there successful Jihad. On earth the battle was failing and ground was being lost as the walls began to close in on humanity sealing there fate in history books written by the covenant.

Josh shouted out for all the tank crews to gather around him they quickly formed a semi circle in front if him. "Ok as you already know the lines are falling, they need your help," said Josh. "I want the brigade split up into three groups, Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie. Alpha I want you to approach the covenant line from as far left as possible were there lines are weakest, Bravo will also approach the lines form the far right, again as far as possible, got it?"

"Yes Sir!"

"Good, again five minutes after that I want Charlie to come in the middle and separate the covenant line into two and from there split into two groups and work your way opposite directions towards Alpha and Bravo, got it?" said Josh looking at all of the tank crews as they split themselves up into three groups.

"Yes Sir!" yelled all of the crews at once.

"Goo...," the master chief was cut short as a pelican flying overhead was shot down by covenant fire. The pelican dived towards the ground and with a large explosion crashed into the sandy terrain just outside the base.

"Move it!" yelled out Josh as he jumped onto the side of a Scorpion tank.

~

The drop ship landed not far behind one of the front lines in the Middle East. Sam jumped out and surrounded by his personal guard walked towards the forward command centre which was a heavy transport filled with communications equipment and supplies. Not far off in the distance there was an explosion from what appeared to be a human drop ship slamming into the ground near an enemy base. Off to the right a drop ship landed letting off a dozen grunts with light fuel rod guns attached to there arms.

As Sam entered the command centre, covenant who were working at various stations filling out charts and issuing orders all stopped stood up and saluted to Sam as he walked towards the commander. With a slight wave of his hand all the covenant resumed their work.

"It is great to see you joining our fronts in this glorious crusade," said the commander Elite who was wearing white armor.

"May the gods bless us in our cleansing of the unclean," said Sam, "but for now I am only here to see how the fronts are moving."

"Everything is going as planned, the human base will be captured by daybreak," said the commander proudly, "we have encountered heavy resistance but casualties are lower then expected."

"Good the Priest will be pleased," said Sam, "I wish to see the latest maps of the region to see where a drop of invaders could be used."

"Invaders" said the commander his voice dropped down to a whisper, "so the rumors are true. Invaders do exist."

"They are the will of the Grand Priest," said Sam with no emotion, "they will destroy the humans and lead us to the gates of the fire, where only the true shall be saved."

The whole command centre was silent every eye was on Sam. Invaders were said to be an experiment of the gods, who in their exile passed them down to the covenant. Invaders were said to be the knife that would go through the human heart and twist until all that was left was a death.

The silence was broken by a grunt screaming from his station, "They got three squads of heavy armor, the lines are breaking."

"Send all available units to neutralize this threat," yelled out the commander.

Sam turned around and briskly walked out of the command center. Him and his personal guard climbed up into the drop ship and yelled out to the pilot "Bring us to the fronts near the break."

~

Josh ran alongside a tank firing at the covenant as they were flushed out of their cover by the heavy explosive rounds from the tanks. The air was filled with screams and the clacking of machine guns as they sprayed the ground and air with a lead rain of death. Not far away a drop ship landed letting off 11 white armored Elites and one figure in a tight black suit carrying a plasma pistol in his hand and a sword sheathed at his side.

The figure yelled out something in a strange language causing all the covenant that were under cover to rise up and charge forward towards the tanks.

The clattering of machine guns was quickly drowned out by the reports of covenant weapons. Josh was forced to take cover behind a tank but in the firefight there was no true cover shots still found there way to him taking his shield down. Behind him there was the sound of a sword being drawn barely audible among the plasma reports but enough for Josh to turn around.

Sam raised his sword and slammed it broadside into the Spartans head knocking him unconscious. The Spartan was quickly dragged away to the drop ship and loaded onboard.

Next: Invaders

Fallen Angel 12: Invaders
Date: 14 April 2003, 6:10 PM

Fallen Angel 12:
Invaders

       As the covenant drop ship lifted off the ground a massive battle was shaping on the ground the tanks were quickly being over run as covenant following the words of Sam. In side the Drop ship Josh was being checked over all his weapons were being removed and his armor closely inspected.

       "Take off his helmet I want to see who it is," said Sam as he walked through the cramped loading bays to Josh's body.

       An Elite that was kneeling down next to Josh pulled at the helmet until it clicked and came off. There was a small hiss as higher pressure inside the helmet rushed out, the Elite pulled away the helmet reveling Josh's head. There was blood flowing out of his nose and the side of his face where Sam had hit him was swelled up and turning purple.

       "Ah my old friend," said Sam smiling as he watched the blood trickle out of Josh's nose and down his neck.

       The Drop Ship exited earth's atmosphere and headed towards the Grand Priest's huge flag ship.

~

       His eyes slowly opened he laid on a solid metal floor in what looked to be a large room even though he couldn't see any of its ends because they were enveloped in darkness.

       Slowly Josh got to his feet and carefully felt the left side of his face which was swollen and bruised. He opened his mouth breaking the seal of dried blood that covered the front of his face.

       "So he, the warrior of earth has waked," said a voice coming from the dark.

       "Where am I? Who are you!" said Josh looking around the room alarmed,

       "Look for yourself," said the voice.

       Over head light suddenly came on illuminating the large steel gray room. On a raised platform at one end stood Sam looking down upon Josh as he squinted from the light.

       "Do you see now," said Sam.

       "God no, what have they done to you!" said Josh in pure shock.

       "They have freed me, and I am here to show you the will of the gods so as you too will be freed," said Sam.

       A holographic image appeared in front of Josh, upon it was an image of an area of fighting just outside the base where he had before been fighting. In the sky there appeared a strange ship floating down towards the surface. The ship stopped about 20 feet above the ground dropped down about 100 strange metallic objects shaped like drops of water. As the drops hit the ground the immediately self righted pointing the smaller needle shaped end towards the sky.

       Josh looked on in awe as another group of 100 metallic drops hit the ground and self righted.

       "What you are about to see is the true power of the gods unleashed," said Sam. "They were given to us by the gods millions of years ago as they were forced into exile by the unclean species of the galaxy. They will reclaim what was once the gods and prepare us for their arrival."

       Josh was mesmerized as on of the drops split into four sections from the top and opened up. Inside there stood a tall creature about 7 feet tall, it had a green coloration and its skin was wrinkled from millions of years in cryogenic sleep.

       "These are Invaders," said Sam smiling, "We have dropped them on every planet we conquer but this is the only one that has caused any response, we have found the home of the gods. Only here may the peak of the gods creations may be released, not even the Grand Priest could wake them."

       The other containers began opening the same way, the invaders began to move. They walked with a powerful stride and had an air of aggression. They now numbered and about 2 thousand and more of them were being launched. The camera switched angles to show the invaders heading towards the battle that raged not to far away.

       "You will watch the last of your race become extinct then you will be offered to the gods as tribute," said Sam smiling grimly, "this is not the only place where invaders are being dropped, all over the world they are seeking out the blood of the unclean."

       As Josh watched the Invaders reached the battle, soldiers began to scream and fire wildly into the air as these new enemies leaped through the air to land upon the soldiers ripping their bodies apart like sheet of paper. Blood soon covered the ground as the few surviving soldiers ran for the pelican drop ships that were now rushing to evacuate the battle field.

       An Invader jumped onto the nose of a Pelican and ripped the cockpit open hauling out the pilot and on a swift motion tearing the pilots head off his shoulders. The Pelicans began to rise up off the ground and fly away several had Marines hanging off the backs of them trying to get in but in the hasty evacuation never completely got on, many of these Marines fell off plummeting into the swarms of Invaders below who quickly tore there limbs apart, the screams of the unlucky soldiers who did not die instantly plagued the battlefield.

~

       Sam stood there with a proud look on his face while Josh's face turned sickly white as the images of his brothers-in-arms where butchered like animals with there body parts left of the ground to rot.

       "You see the true power of the gods," said Sam as he walked through the holographic image towards Josh.

~

       The invaders have crushed the infidels," yelled out the Elite commander at the forward command centre. "A new age has come let us raise our prayers to the gods for allowing us this great victory!"

       Everybody in the command centre let out cheers of rejoice. Grunts jumped into the air waving their arms while Jackals dropped to the ground in prayer. All of the Elites offered quick prayers and returned to their work.

       All was not as planned, the Invaders after butchering the remaining humans walked off towards the celebrating covenant lines.

Next: Curse of the Gods

Fallen Angel 13: Curse of the Gods
Date: 18 April 2003, 5:38 PM

Fallen Angel 13:
Curse of the Gods

       The Covenant where rejoicing as the Invaders made their way towards them, the Covenant thinking of them as their friends the God's gift to them did not feel threatened. All over the Galaxy on thousands of planets Invaders began to wake from their cryogenic sleep, some where on yet to be explored planets where they had been left many millennia ago and some in the temples of the Covenant and onboard their ships.

       "The Gods have arisen," yelled out an Elite getting up behind cover and walking towards the Invaders which were approaching in a stiff walk. All around troops where standing firing their weapons into the air in celebration and yelling out on joy.

       One grunt ran towards the nearest Invader and stopped in front of it and knelt down in prayer. Many of the troops followed the grunt example and dropped their weapons running towards the Invaders and praying. Slowly The Invader in front of the Grunt reached down and picked the tiny creature up by the back. As the grunt dangled in the air in amazement the Invader lifted its other appendage and in a swift movement drove it through the grunts neck killing it.

       Every Covenant stopped and starred as the Invader threw the grunts body off to the side and let out a strange shrieking noise. Suddenly all of the Invaders charged into the unarmed crowds of Covenant soldiers ripping them to shreds. The highest ranking Elite there activated his plasma sword and charged at the invaders slashing at any that were close by. On Invader grabbed hold of the Elite's head and in one squeeze crushed the Elite's head like a paper cup.

~

       Sam sat upon a throne to the right of the Grand Priests which was currently empty studying an ancient document dating back to the pre-alliance days between the races. Suddenly a messenger burst into the room panting from his dash from the comm. Room.

       "Sir, its urgent," said the messenger bowing quickly.

       "Yes what is it," said Sam putting down the document.

       "The Invaders they have turned upon our troops, out lines have been obliterated," said the messenger.

       "WHAT!" yelled Sam in standing up.

       "The Invaders are decimating our ground forces and there is word that the Invaders that are still stored all over the galaxy are awakening," said the messenger quickly.

       "How can this be, the Invaders where a gift not a curse!" said Sam still standing.

       "Shall I order a complete retreat," said the messenger.

       "No," said Sam, "call an emergency meeting with the council immediately."

~

       Josh sat in the corner of his cell looking down at the floor made up of a strange metal. He had been left alone except for the occasional passing guard. Inside his head was raging.

       A voice inside his head said, "if only you were faster, if YOU had saved Kelly she could of killed Sam before he could get you, but no YOU weren't good enough and now your stuck up here while what's left of YOUR men are down there ALONE fending off the Invaders." Josh tried to think of something else but that voice yelled out inside his brain, "you're a failure Josh, and now all humanity is going to die because of you."

       "Stop it please," cried Josh now tears began to drip down from his eyes. Josh sobbed for what seemed like hours until voice came from outside his cell.

       "Did you hear," said a Grunt.

       "No, what's happening?" said another Grunt.

       "The Invaders, they've turned against our own troops," said the Grunt.

       "O my God!" yelled the other grunt in shock.

       Josh stopped sobbing and stood up silently not trying to make a sound walked towards the front of his cell to hear the Grunts better.

       "From what I hear Grand General Sam has called an emergency council," said the Grunt in a hushed voice.

       "I hope they can solve this quickly, there must be millions of troops down there under attack," said the other grunt.

       "My commander says that they will probably glass the planet," said the Grunt in almost a whisper.

~
       "We must wipe the planet free of Invaders quickly to ensure that they do not find a way to infiltrate any of our ships," said an Elite commander wearing white armor.

       "If we glass the planet the Gods may take vengeance upon us," said a Jackal.

       "The Gods have left us we must act, can't you see that this is a plague that they have left for us," said another Elite. At that statement the whole room exploded council members shouting and arguing.

       "Silence," yelled out the Grand Priest sitting on his throne at his right stood Sam. "We have been given a test, already the Invaders stored on many of our own planets have started to awaken. We must send the mothership into deep space and activate the God's Ring."

       Even Sam was in shock, the God's ring was an ancient relic that sat in orbit around the Covenant home world. Inside it was where the Invaders where found in their dormant state. It was said that the God's Ring was the only thing capable of killing the Invaders by sending out a huge pulse of energy that would kill off everything in the galaxy with the exception of a few single cell creatures.

       "Are you sure that the God's Ring is the only way?" asked Sam breaking the silence.

       "Yes it must be done," said the Grand Priest, "Sam pick out your finest men to set off the ring. We will then us the mothership to escape with only the strongest of the races."

       "Yes Sir I will begin immediately," said Sam, "I still do not understand why the Ring is the only way."

       "In the oldest of our known scriptures dating back to before the God's exile they speak of their one of their creations turning against them and the only way to stop it was by activating the Ring worlds," said the Grand Priest in a shaky voice. "According to the scripture they could not activate the ring in time to stop the spread of the race they called humans, apparently they ran rampant onboard their ships and were able to adapt quickly to their technologies. In the end the Gods fled the galaxy leaving their home world, the vary planet that we orbit now infested with humans."

       "I see now," said Sam in deep thought, "but it still does not explain why the Invaders are attacking us."

       "That I am afraid we may never know," said the Grand Priest thinking. "Order the planet glassed, than withdraw the entire fleet to the home world immediately. This council is over."

Next: Last Man

Fallen Angel 14: Last Man
Date: 29 April 2003, 6:35 PM

Fallen Angel 14:
Last Man

       A woman cradling her baby ran from her house in a desperate attempt to escape the creatures that had just broke in through the back windows. They were quick to kill her husband who had tried hopelessly to hold of the creatures with an antique shotgun, he had fired off several shots into one of them but to no use, the creature fell down then got up again killing him with one swipe of its arm like appendage. Now behind her one of the creatures ran out through the door which was left open in her rush.

       Within seconds the creature was upon her she dodged the creature's first swipe by side stepping but she was too slow to avoid the second. With a quick blow she was left dead on the ground blood flowing freely out of her mouth from her crushed chest. The baby lay on the ground screaming, up above a bright blue light broke through the atmosphere and came down upon the ground quickly vaporizing the baby and the creature, the heat was so immense that the ground glassed over.

       In space every cruiser that the Covenant had where opening up glassing every inch of ground to destroy any ships that may allow for the Invaders to get into space.

~

       "The invaders in storage are awakening!" yelled out a communications officer to the captain onboard a Covenant assault carrier.

       "Order the self-destruct sequence, we cannot let them take control of this ship," yelled out the Captain.

       "Yes Sir," yelled out another officer.

       The carrier sent its final message to the Grand Priests ship explaining the situation then quickly pulled away from the fleet to avoid harming any other ships. In a blinding light that for a few seconds was brighter then the sun the ship's plasma reactors overloaded and exploded in such an immense heat that everything was vaporized not even leaving any space junk. All throughout the fleet ships which were unfortunately caught with Invaders that had not been launched were pulling away from the fleet to self-destruct.

       The Grand Priests ship which was the remnants of an ancient battle cruiser dating back to the days of the Gods reign did not carry any Invaders thus making it safe, for now.

~

       Humanity had ended the last of Earth's defensive fleet that had fled was caught by covenant battle groups that had been sent out to hunt out the last of the remaining colonies inhabited by humans.

       There was all but none. Two humans still stood one of them warped beyond belief ordering the assault against his' own kind, so warped was his mind that he could hardly be considered human. The other a warrior, standing in the shadows staring out through his cell to the outside world, he was the last true man ready to fight, ready to avenge an entire race, but instead he was helpless standing their alone in the shadows.

       As the ship entered slip space there was a slight flicker in the lights, in this slight flicker the shield wall that trapped in Josh deactivated.

       "What's happening?" said a Grunt who was patrolling the holding bloc

       "It's a power surge the shields will be back up in a second!" yelled out another Grunt at the far end of the bloc. "Watch out for that human, he's a dangerous one!"

       There was no answer the first Grunt had been quickly knocked out by Josh, the grunts body was inside the cell on the floor with a large wound in the back of its head.

~

       Josh slowly ran into a small alcove along the side of the long passages outside the holding bloc where he had been held. The floor sloped downwards on a gentle grade. From somewhere down the hall a wall mounted comm. System yelled out something which Josh did not catch.

       Suddenly two doors across from each other in the hall opened up and in the clanking of armor and weapons toe rows of elites ran out of both doors down the hall. They were not wearing the White armor that the Covenant on the surface had worn but instead a set of black armor.

       Josh quietly followed them down the hall ducking behind everything that could protect him from the gaze of an Elite if one happened to look back. Up ahead of the two rows there was a set of large heavy doors which as they approached slid open revealing the enormous docking bays of the Grand Priest ship.

       Inside the docking bay there were several drop ships all with black Elites standing in front of them looking towards a raised platform on the back wall of the bay. On that platform stood the Grand Priest and Sam at his right a step below him. Josh quickly        and silently ran out through the door before it closed, he quickly hid behind a large crate near the open end of a heavy transport which also had Elites standing in front of it.

       "You are now all that stands to save the remained of the Covenant Empire," said the Grand Priest. "The homeworld lies in ruins from the Invaders that were stored, there are virtually no colonies left that have been untouched by this curse."

       He stopped for a second to let this sink into the force of Elite's. "You're mission will be to activate the God's Ring," said the grand Priest. "The Ring is infested with Invaders, go to the control centre and insert the Index. You must succeed for there to be any hope of the Covenant to ever be able to repair it's self, if you fail the Covenant and all other life in the galaxy will come to an end."

Next: The God's Ring

Fallen Angel 15: The God's Ring
Date: 4 May 2003, 2:40 PM

Fallen Angel 15:
The God's Ring

       As the remainder of the Covenant fleet exited slip space not far away from the homeworld, the final act in an age began. An age that had spanned for over 1 billion years and had brought to life a golden age of civilization throughout the galaxy, and had also brought about the most violent and turbulent times that the entire universe had ever seen.

       Floating in space above the homeworld there was a huge elongated oval shaped craft spanning for 200 kilometers in length and 50 km wide. It was the apex of covenant technology, it contained the most powerful engines to have ever been produced and some of the most powerful weapons that the galaxy had seen since the Forerunner days. Most importantly though inside there where hundreds of thousands of Covenant frozen cryogenically and an entire record of covenant history and religion including the 7 scrolls on which the basis for the covenant religion is written.

~

       Josh sat still in the cover of a crate sitting near the wall of the docking bays. The transports and drop ships had for the most part taken off only a few which were being loaded up with vehicles were left. Not far away from where Josh lay three Banshees sat unattended. From where Josh sat they appeared to be equipped with air locks to allow flight in space.

       Josh sat their watching bay making sure that everyone in the bay was preoccupied. He slowly got up took one final look behind him to make absolutely sure that no one was looking his way and burst out into a full out run.

       As he came within 100 feet of the Banshees he heard shouts behind him, he was spotted. Sam had taken his armor when he was captured so Josh was completely unprotected.

       The shouting behind him increased and several plasma shots were fired off missing him by a wide margin. He was within 50 feet of the closest Banshee, behind him there was the high pitched whine of a Ghost being started. Josh was now within 20 feet of the Banshee but now plasma bolts where flying everywhere around him striking the floor near his heels and whipped through the air past his body.

       He reached the nearest Banshee and hopped into its open back, he quickly hit the start up button closing the back and sealing the craft. He quickly grabbed hold of the strange steering device that lay in front of him and hit the accelerator button and with a sudden jolt the Banshee sped out through the main bays doors with a steady stream of plasma behind it.

~

       Sam paced in front of the Grand Priest's throne which was now empty. He had just heard that Josh had escaped, and in the rage that followed hearing these words he cut the air line that ran the messenger grunt's mask and watched him die slowly from the oxygen which poisoned his lungs.

       In 5 minutes the Grand Priests ship would dock with the mothership that floated in orbit over the homeworld to allow Sam the Grand Priest and a chosen group of Covenant to go into exile from the galaxy until the effects of the God's Ring wore off to allow them to return.

       "What is he doing," said Sam aloud. "Does he know about Ring? How could he know? Will he activate it?"

~

       Through the small viewing screen that allowed for the pilot to see where he was going, Josh could see the entire attack fleet of transports that where heading for a huge ring shaped object that orbited the covenant homeworld. On the screen an arrow appeared pointing towards a point on the ring where Josh guessed they were supposed to land.

       "So you escaped me," said a voice through the comm. system onboard the Banshee. "Do you know exactly where you are heading?"

       "How did you know where I was," said Josh surprised.

       "I thought more of you," said Sam, "you know that that ship is loaded with tracking equipment and your escape didn't go unreported."

       "So now what are you going to do," said Josh, "I have the fuel rods charged, I can take out a few of your drop ships before you could get a fighter on me."

       "I'm not going to kill you...yet," said Sam in a grim voice. "What you're witnessing in front of you is the last major contingent of the Covenant army making a move to ensure that all Invaders will be destroyed."

       "Yes I heard your little speech," said Josh.

       "What do you want then," asked Sam.

       "Revenge, upon your kind," sneered Josh.

       "You will only be helping the Invaders," said Sam, "do you really want to help the creature that destroyed your entire kind, we only did a fraction of the damage that they did."

       "Fine then where is the control room," said Josh, "I will activate it."

       "Good to see were agreeing on something," said Sam, "there should already be a NAV point there for it."

       "Good," said Josh grimly, "you will soon see the light." Josh quickly turned off all comm. channels and accelerated the Banshee.

~

       Sam stood there next to the communications display thinking about Josh's last statement realizing what it meant.

       "Destroy that Banshee immediately," screamed out Sam. "Get every Serph on it now."

~

       Josh was approaching the ring behind the main fleet of transports and drop ships. Already the first of the Covenant craft where entering the rings atmosphere. As the fleet almost completely dropped through the hazy blue atmosphere Josh sped up and dropped down on top of the objective.

       He dove through the atmosphere and the clouds that covered this part of the ring. Josh reached back and grabbed a plasma pistol from a small compartment along the inner wall of the Banshee, he pulled it forward and tucked it in the belt of the loose cloths that he had been given after his armor was taken.

       Down below him the Covenant for the most part where off the transports and were running through the woods in one huge mass towards the command room. Already they had met some Invaders who were fired on by thousands of plasma shots eventually killing them. But the Covenant casualties were already high. The Invaders could kill half a dozen Covenant before one of them would die.

       This was a last stand, one that would never see the history books, or even the minds of future being, but still all of the galaxy was about to be affected by the outcome of this last stand for life.

Next: Seeing the Light (series finale)

Fallen Angel 16: Seeing the Light (Series Finale)
Date: 10 May 2003, 9:21 PM

Fallen Angel 16:
Seeing the Light
(Series finale)

       Above the Covenant homeworld the last great struggle was taking place, upon a ringed shaped world from eons ago, on it lay total destruction and hope. Earths last defender dove through the clouds carrying the redemption of an entire race on his back and there power in his hands.

~

       The Grand Priests ship docked with the Mothership by a small catwalk. The first of the chosen Covenant crossed through the catwalk casting quick prayers to the warriors on the ring fighting their last battle. Sam was last in line, he had been given the duty of issuing the final prayers to the crew of the ship which would not be able to get out of the galaxy before its crew would be killed by the Ring's blast.

       "May your souls find eternal enlightenment in the land of the God's," said Sam to the huge mass of Covenant who where being left behind. They were all on there knees with their heads on the ground saying prayers. "You are the apex of a race and you have done more then enough to ensure the survival of your race. May we forever praise your souls for their honorable duties." Sam then turned around and left the room for the catwalk.


~

       As the Banshee slowed down and dropped down into a clearing about 2 kilometers from the command center. Josh carefully brought the Banshee to a stop hovering just above the ground and then lowered it to a touchdown. Quickly opening to hatch Josh jumped out onto the ground and ran to the bushes at the edge of the clearing for cover. His feet made a crunching noise as he ran over the lightly snow covered ground.

       Overhead some plasma shots from the battle raging between the Covenant and Invaders flew overhead. Josh dove into the bushes and then lifted his head to look out over the area. As far as he could see in front of him was the lightly snow-covered ground of a forest composed mostly of        what appeared to be evergreen trees. Far off in the distance a line of Invaders ran through the forest towards the battle, he had arrived unnoticed protected by the confusion on the ground.

       "God help me," mumbled Josh slowly getting to his feet and moved slowly along the edge of the clearing in the direction that the Invaders had come from.

       As Josh slowly made his way up through the edge of the forest he could hear the battle behind him slowly coming closer as the Covenant ran through the forest towards the command center.

       Eventually as Josh rounded a small area of trees that jutted out into the clearing he came within sight of the command center. It appeared to be made up of a gray metal that remained shiny after eons of exposure to the rings hostile weather. The command center was not very tall only about 4 stories high but it was stretched almost a kilometer long away from Josh who was near one of its ends. The command on the closest end to Josh's location there as a heavy door resembling those found on Covenant ships except much larger, big enough for an entire battalion of soldiers to march through in a parade formation.

       Slowly Josh continued along the edge of the clearing until he was within 200 feet from the huge doors. All around the entrance there were the bodies of Covenant soldiers who had been stationed there to defend the command center before the releasing of the Invaders. Also there were several destroyed tanks and ghosts laying in twisted pieces. Invaders surrounded the entrance surveying the area waiting to repel the thousands of enemies that would soon be swarming this position. Josh slowly pulled the plasma pistol from the Banshee out from his belt, it would be practically useless against the Invaders so he carefully hid waiting for the Covenant to reach the center.

~

       Two Serph fighters broke through the atmosphere of the ring and quickly locked onto the location of the stolen Banshee. They made a quick pass overhead then confirmed that their target who had stolen the Banshee had escaped, quickly the launched a plasma torpedo destroying the Banshee and glassing a small area of earth around it.

~

       "Swarm the command center, clear a passage to the command room," yelled an Elite commanding the huge attack group Elites that was now charging through the forest.

       Up ahead there was the large gray metal building that was the command center, all around there were Invaders ready to defend the building at all costs. The Invaders began to charge towards the mass of Elites, the two forces meat about 30 feet away from the command center. It was clear that the Invaders were winning, the broken bodies of Elites were everywhere. The screams of Elites being killed pierced the air and sent shivers down Josh's spine.

       Josh seeing his opportunity got up from his hiding spot and ran for the huge doors of the command center. In the huge battle not far away he was unnoticed. He slammed up against the doors and quickly went to work trying to find a way to open them. Suddenly t a mechanical sound came from inside and the doors opened. In front of Josh stood a lone Invader, Josh lifted his plasma pistol and fired off several shots. One of the shots hit the Invader in its leg, the negatively charged plasma molecules quickly attacked the positively charged particles of the Invaders leg causing if to "burn" off. The Invader who was caught by surprise fell to the ground but still tried to swipe at Josh who quickly ran around its body and took off down a long wide hallway towards what appeared to be an opening into a larger chamber on the other end.

~

       Sam walked briskly through the passageways of the ship on his way to the catwalk. He kept his hand on his sword at his side incase he came across a crew member trying to escape through the catwalk to the Mothership. As he rounded a corner a Grunt ran out of a door and in the direction of the catwalk. Sam hauled his sword of its sheath and quickly caught up with it, in a clean swipe of the blade the Grunt's head rolled of its shoulders, the body quickly collapsed to the ground and blood poured out of the stump of a neck that remained.

       "Bastard," said Sam as he slipped his sword back into its sheath.

       Josh ran as fast as he possibly could, behind him he heard the strange shrieking noises made by the Invader on the ground. Afraid what may happen if he stopped Josh kept running, In front of him two Invaders ran out of the chamber that he was running for, one of them was taller then the other and appeared to be much more aggressive. Josh lifted his pistol and fired off half a dozen shots at the larger one but they appeared to have no affect. Josh kept running and firing with no fear of what he knew was about to happen.

       The smaller of the two Invaders jumped at Josh but missed him and slammed into the floor hard, it lay as though dazed for several seconds then got up and ran towards Josh who by this time was near the entrance of the room. The larger one stepped out in front of Josh and brought its arm up preparing to catch Josh as he desperately tried to turn on the floor but it was too slippery, he slid and slammed into the chest of the Invader. The Invader brought down his arm and slammed it into Josh's back causing him to fall to the ground he tried to grab onto the Invaders body to haul himself back up but with another vicious blow Josh was thrown away from the Invader.

       Josh lay motionless on the floor blood flowed freely form his nose and his mouth, he was barely breathing. The two Invaders turned and walked towards the entrance of the command center leaving Josh's motionless body behind

~

       Josh opened up his eyes slowly clenching his teeth in pain as he got up. About 100 feet down the hall from where he stood the two Invaders walked towards the entrance. Josh turned and looked into the cavernous chamber in front of him. Through the doorway there was a suspended walkway leading to a large console.

       Josh stumbled onto the walkway and slowly made his way across to the console, He gasped for breath and his face was near white form blood loss. Above the console suspended in mid air by a strange light there was a small cylindrical metal object. Josh starred at it as he dragged his half dead body towards it.

       The larger of the two Invaders turned around and saw Josh within feet of the console. With a loud screech it ran as fast as it could towards Josh who now had the Object in his hand. Josh heard the screech and quickly found a slot for the object and slammed it down inside it.

~

       Sam walked across the catwalk, halfway across he stopped and turned to look out through one of the many windows that lined it. Off in the distance the God's Ring sat almost peacefully in space, suddenly what appeared to be four bright beams of light shot out from four side of the ring and met in the middle. Suddenly there was a huge explosion and in a bright white light the God's Ring went off.

Finis

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