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The Defense of Earth 5: The Flood
Posted By: Steele<hoffmansteele@hotmail.com>
Date: 11 April 2003, 8:49 PM
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The Flood
1200 Hours October 15, 2552 (Military Calendar)/
Location unknown...
Commander Rick "Einstein" Mitchell dropped his MA5B Assault Rifle's sight on the first thing out of the door and fired a three round burst. The creature fell back, its stretched brown body, spewing out a dark fluid green.
Rick took aim at the next and dropped it too, but he quickly realized there was slightly too many for him to fight. He spun and fired another burst, before sprinting toward the nearest exit. He ran right into another of the things as the door slid open.
He shoved the barrel of his Assault rifle right into its chest and held the trigger down. The thing literally disintegrated into a spray of brown and green. He kicked its mutilated corpse aside and noticed it looked a lot like an Elite. As he continued running, he tossed a Fragmentation Grenade behind him, for good measure.
As it went off he turned a corner and heard shrapnel ping off the bulkhead behind him. He turned another corner and spun, deciding to make a short stand here. He dropped out his MA5B's empty magazine, slammed in a fresh, and cycled the bolt. He didn't know what these things were, but they had obviously conquered the Covenant that had been aboard this ship, then hosted upon them like parasites. And there were so damn many of them. They came at you in a flood.
As the first one popped around the corner he took a split second to examine it. It had the body of an Elite, but with tentacles, growths, and sickening body parts protruding from stretched taunt skin. It was truly revolting.
He sighted on its chest and squeezed the trigger. The 7.62mm Armor Piercing rounds tore through its chest like tissue paper, causing chunks of skin and green blood to splatter the walls. The thing collapsed on the ground, its claws gouging the deck plating in its death throes.
Rick bounced a grenade around the corner and took off running again. He ran through another door and found himself in a small room with no exit. He circled around to leave by the way he came in, but the door had shut and locked behind him. Rearing back, he struck the door with all his might. His futile effort did nothing more than cause an echo in the small room and numb his arm.
He knew there was no way out, but maybe the things couldn't get inside and get him either. He turned to survey the room when he noticed the small spherical glowing camera floating above his head. It was about the size of large basketball, glowed a bright blue, and had a small circular viewing apparatus mounted in the middle. It rotated and faced him.
It spoke in a cultured British accent, "Hello, I am 3-4-3 Guilty Spark and I require your assistance. Somehow, the Flood captured this vessel and eliminated the pathetic aliens to whom it belongs. I was lucky to get aboard. Come now, we must detonate the Plasma Reactor and eliminate the Flood before they escape, they consume all!"
Rick stood dumbstruck, wondering what had just happened. "Wait a minu—," he started, but 343 Guilty Spark cut him off.
"No, there is no time. The Flood are within range of a populated planet, we must stop them before they get to the planet and feed. Now follow me, I will lead you to the Plasma reactor."
Realizing he had no choice but to follow, Rick reluctantly followed the camera-thing out the door and down the purple corridors, now oddly devoid of any Flood forms. They reached the Plasma reactor without incident and 343 Guilty Spark led him through the procedures for detonating the Plasma Reactors. When Rick tried to ask Spark questions, the little A.I. just ignored him by humming.
When Spark told him to set the timer for immediate detonation, he balked. "Hell No! I'm not dying to blow up a bunch off constipated rats! I'll set it for ten minutes and get the hell off this thing, do I make myself clear?"
343 Guilty Spark sighed, "Why do humans always insist on putting their own lives ahead of that of the greater good? Never mind it doesn't matter. If you must, hurry up and I'll lead you to the launch bay, where we both can escape."
Rick nodded and followed Spark out the door. 3 Flood Forms were there to roll out the welcoming matt. He lifted his MA5B and fired at the first. It dropped, but the second and third were upon him. The one on the left swung an overhand blow straight for his head.
He threw his legs out from underneath him, and watched the Flood Form's claws pass within an inch of his face. He lifted his rife and fired. The rounds exited the barrel and tore off the Flood form's arm and a chunk of its torso.
The thing reeled away, green fluid spraying from its wounds. The last one leapt at him, its powerful legs propelling it through the air. Rick rolled out of the way as its claws ripped through the deck plating he had just been lying on.
Rick jumped up and held down his assault rifle's trigger. Nothing happened. He looked down at the ammo counter and saw the horrid number zero menacing him with its blue glow. Moving swiftly he dropped the weapon and yanked his M6D pistol free of it's holster and fired at the critter.
The first round pierced it and left out its torso leaving a ragged exit wound. Before he could fire again the creature charged him and slammed into his chest armor.
Rick fell back and lifted his pistol, holding down the trigger. The Flood Form collapsed from the onslaught of bullets. He stood up and checked the dent in his armor. Those things sure packed a punch. He knew he'd have a bruise there for a few weeks.
Looking up he could see Spark impatiently waiting, "Are you done yet. We haven't got the time for you to stay and play with your new friends."
Glancing around nervously Rick replied, "Well let's go before more of 'em show up!"
"Follow me then."
Without a word, Rick turned and followed the ancient Monitor to the launch bay. Once again no Flood creatures seemed to oppose them, but when the doors opened to the Launch Bay, Rick could see the Bay was infested with him.
"This way," 343 Guilty Spark ordered and floated toward one of the Covenant Dropships.
Rick ran after him, blowing Flood Forms out of the way. He hopped in the Dropship's side door after Spark.
"The ship is ready and waiting, I powered it up while en-route here. I trust you can handle the controls?" the Monitor asked him, its British accent highly distinct.
"I can fly anything with a stick," Rick growled as he grasped the unfamiliar controls.
The 'stick' was a two handed steering wheel, with the throttle controls located on it. It seemed simple enough. He pushed the throttle forward and accelerated into space. He rolled the U-shaped Dropship up on its side and firewalled its Plasma Engines. In his opinion it was more sluggish than a Pelican. As he accelerated around the Covenant ship's bulk, he saw the populated planet Guilty Spark had been talking about.
The Planet was in the distance, too far away too see clearly, but he could tell, without a doubt, the planet was Earth.
Author's Note: This one was, in my opinion, short and sweet. It was also the end of The Defense of Earth: Chapter One (parts 1-5). The next installments will be posted at a later date, but now I'm working on a new series.
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