Just Getting Started Chapter 2
Posted By: James Kinsella<jckinsella@redrunr.net>
Date: 23 March 2003, 5:08 PM
Read/Post Comments
|
Just Getting Started
Chapter Two
1947 Hours, September 11, 2552 (Military Calendar)/
UNSC Leviathan Sol System
Cortana said, "Chief we have a problem! That engine problem earlier was no accident. It was the Monitor! He's activated the engine overload cycle but masked it as a sub-routine that burns off extra ion buildup on the reactor core! That's why the Leviathan's A.I. didn't detect the problem. He's on board the ship, in engineering bay 2. I don't know how he survived the blast but he is here!"
"I see that your construct has detected my presence, Reclaimer, therefore I will be blunt." said the monitor, "I'm here to destroy you and this ship. I will endeavor to make your death as painful as possible."
"Chief, I've sent a message to the Admiral. Hitachi, the Leviathan's A.I. is extracting the reactor core now. This however is a stopgap solution at best. The monitor will be able to take control of leviathan and restart the overload process in approximately 7 minutes. We must find 343 Guilty Spark before then."
"Understood." John said. He ran to the elevator and hit the button for engineering. As he stepped off the elevator he heard the familiar humming and chirping that usually accompanied the monitor. He pulled out his SMG and opened fire. As he emptied the first clip he noticed that the rounds weren't even hurting the monitor.
"Why are you trying to stop me Reclaimer? You should know that your projectile weapons can't hurt me. My weapons however should be quite effective against you." The monitor opened fire with a laser like that of the sentinels, but his was blue and cut the Chief's shields twice as fast. He couldn't get away from the beam. John saw the spark as his shields gave out and he made a last ditch jump behind a diagnostics station. The monitor flew over the station and said, "You should not have resisted Reclaimer. I understand your reluctance in giving me the Index, but destroying the Installation was incompetent as well as infuriating. I hope in your dying moments you reflect on your mistake."
"Reflect this!" said a voice that cam from behind the diagnostics station. John heard the distinctive whoosh of a Spnkr rocket and saw a fire trail connect with the menace floating above him. The Monitor fell to the ground and said, "Reclaimer, the Forerunner will have revenge on my deactivation." With that unusual set of last words the blue flame of the monitor was extinguished.
As John stared at the hulk of metal he realized that he still hadn't seen who saved him. He grabbed the station and pulled himself up. As he looked over the edge of the station he almost fell down from shock. He was looking at a Spartan! The Mjolnir Armor was different but the person inside was to big to be anything but a Spartan. The first thought that came to his head was who was it? Second in his mind was how?
"Who are you?" John asked. "I didn't know there were any other Spartans." John thought back to their briefing on Reach when Dr. Halsey said that Mendez was going to train a new group of Spartans, but he had never seen or heard about them. This had to be a trick that the monitor was using on him.
" It's James!" responded the figure. "I hope you didn't forget who I am Chief, nut I guess it's possible what with your age and everything."
"James what are you doing here! I thought you were dead." "Nope, I'm just as hard to kill as you. When my thruster pack was shot I flew away from you guys and over the edge of the dock. I saw hundreds of Covenant and immediately opened fire. That's when I discovered something interesting; the rounds from the assault rifle propelled my backwards. I soon reoriented myself towards a damaged ship and shot my way over there. When I got onboard I found the Covenant was ignoring us and glassing Reach. We escaped to slipstream and the rest is history. How have you been though?"
"Hanging in there" John responded. "I couldn't possibly tell you all that happened without leaving somthing out. I'll show you the After-Action report I made on the way home. Until then let's head to the mess hall."
"No can do John." James responded, "I've been called to help the ground troops on Earth prepare for the battle. I'm also supposed to stay on the ground during the battle. As a matter of fact I've got to go now. I'll see you on the battlefield!"
With that James went to the elevator and punched in the floor of the hangar bay. John could not express the feelings of relief that were plaguing him at that second so he pushed them away. With that thought he heard a General Announcement on the ship's intercom.
"This is Admiral Stanforth. Covenant ships have executed a pinpoint slip-jump to undercut our fleet and are currently plasma torping Earth. All UNSC Ships in the area are ordered to break formation and attack at fastest speed."
On a private com channel John heard Stanforth telling Cortana to get the chief to the bridge. John had a thought all of a sudden. "Admiral, with all due respect I believe I can be of more use in other places. I think I've got an idea." John ran to the elevator and hit the button for hangar deck. On his way to the hangar he picked up a new Battle Rifle. He walked into the hangar and heard Cortana on the com channels arguing with the Admiral. John walked over to the airlock emergency command station. He opened the airlock. Cortana asked, "What if we miss?" As they flew out of the airlock John responded in his usual confident tone. "We won't." And with that they fell towards Earth. A Covenant cruiser loomed up beneath them and they fell faster towards it....
I PROMISE the NEXT one WILL have BLOOD and GUTS
|
