HRP reboot - Chapter 2: On the Run

Rha slowed the troop down, looking back at the human and holding back his urges. He didn't want to risk hurting her. He'd killed Kig-Yar before with little more than a slap, this human would end with a simple touch, he was sure.

They had to calm themselves in wait for Set, but as they did, the sound of heavy padding began to ring through the hall, metal banging on metal one by one. Rha snarled happily, looking back at the human.
"Your redemption has been held off indefinitely."

Around the corner further ahead, came two of the mightiest beasts in the Covenant army, equipped with deadly assault cannons and large, powerful shielding, capable of withstanding some of the most powerful weapons in the human cache.

"Waputo Tamo Sonu and Gapura Tamo Haru. The Mgalekgolo of Shipmaster Juva ‘Zamittaree. They will ensure your survival, and your departure, human."

Rha contacted Set, as they began to move again.
"What is taking so long?"

Dan thought for a few moments.

"Hail one of these ships, tell them they got another flier out here."

The T'vaoan ran to the breached hanger, at their top speed they ran 45 miles per hour. Upon meeting with Set briefly, they embarked to the human inhabited hanger, and began to cut down the humans.

"I believe there are some humans loose in the ship, I believe they are looking for the human."

Rha nodded. He'd heard some of that over the Battlenet. It wasn't a major surprise, but it wasn't exactly something he welcomed.

"Fall back, Set. I need you by my side if the humans dare come near me. I'm sure you wouldn't want to miss this opportunity."

"I shall." Set left his fellow T'vaoan in the hanger, dodging and weaving his way through the onslaught, at such speed the humans couldn't react fast enough. He was down the hallways and through all the right passageways to his Ultra's last position.

"Mgalekgolo. This will be interesting."

"What the fuck?" Daniel shouted, turning and shooting at whatever it was that whipped past them. He wasn't sure if he hit anything but that didn't stop him from firing bursts down the hallway.

Rha nodded, looking down at Set and reaching for his weapon, grabbing the hilt and holding it tightly in his hand. He'd not be caught off guard.

"If the heretics find us, we will fight them. From there, Waputo Tamo Sonu and Gapura Tamo Haru will escort the prisoner. They understand it's importance."

---

David continued to tap his screen, ensuring he knew everything he could about the battle outside. As the ship shook for a moment, he closed his eyes, letting out a faint sight.

<< Boy, I'm glad I showed up for this >>

David spun on his seat, looking at the avatar before him. A little more intricate than most.
"Good to see you, Meryl. Why are you here?"
The avatar smiled at him, as the AI began to slowly calculate.

<< Why do you think? >>

A few minutes later, David scratched his head, sighing.
"Well go on then. Contact her."

The AI began to scour through the ships comms and cameras, finding the one that it was after. Within that room, was a soldier in SPI armour.

<< Hello SPARTAN, Would you please be so kind as to make your way to room OF-13? Thank you >>

Skye paused, uncertain about the request. It was an unknown contact, but it was also on the ship. She quickly queried the Iris's AI, who, surprisingly to Skye, could not find anything. Curiosity, and the fact that there could be a severe security breach, Skye headed towards OF-13 instead of the bridge.

David stood up, rubbing his head and walking around his room, the light glow of the orange avatar bouncing off of the walls, as the dim glow of the ceiling light attempted to fight it for supremacy.
"You do realise we're in a battlezone, right Meryl?"

The avatar looked at him, smiling wryly.

<< My goodness, I had no idea >>

Sarcastic bitch.

Skye stopped at the door to OF-13, silently debating whether she should draw her pistol before entering. Eventually, she decided not to, and opened the door, recognising the man in there as the one she had run into in the mess hall, and noticing the AI first.
"Who are you?" She said, directly addressing the AI.

David looked back at the figure, frowning. Something about it seemed very familiar. Of course, it was a SPARTAN-III, but he recognized something actually about the person.

The door closed behind it, and David turned to face the figure properly.

"I am Snake. That's all you need to know about me. And, that I am in every way your superior."

"First Lieutenant 'Snake'. Service number 21522-49933-DP," She recited, as though she had memorised it, and saluting, "I was talking to the AI, sir. Her being here could cause a severe breach of the Cole Protocol,"

David froze, blinking in surprise as his AI let out a more than pleased chortle, her avatar covering her mouth as she laughed. The dog lay his head down.

<< Artificial Intelligence Meryl, Service Number MRL 0431-1 >>

David frowned, pulling up his datapad and conversing with her for a moment and eliciting a sigh from her, as she shook her head and smiled. The dog curled up at her feet, facing away from her as she buzzed for a moment.

<< I'm here for a special reason, isn't that right, David? You see, I'm his personal AI, commissioned as his caretaker, and as much as he may hates it he can't get rid of me. As part of Section Zero, he's made sure that even in the case of attack, no one may dare come into contact with me; only he gets to destroy me. It's a little pathetic, but for once there's more too it >>

"She's too vital to destroy. If a ship she is stationed aboard is attacked, I make sure to get her off the vessel."
As he spoke, he tapped at his datapad, conversing with the AI furiously, though you couldn't tell from his body.

<< Let's get to the point here. Our 'superiors' heard that you were onboard this ship, and only moments ago came to the realization that we were at great risk. We've been ordered to order you to submit to us and ensure my safety, as well as Davids >>

David sighed, rubbing his head a little.
"Don't worry, you'll hardly be needed. We're just appeasing the brass."

"I won't be of help if the Covenant shoot the Iris down," Skye answered, "And I doubt we'll be boarded, there isn't any tactical value in the Covenant taking a Paris-Class frigate,"

"There is always a-"

<< There is always a value in capturing the ships of humanity, as much as people may propagate otherwise. Capturing one frigate would lead the Covenant to Earth. That would be the end of everything. You understand that. >>

David frowned, and nodded in agreement.
"If this ship begins to suffer anything more than mild plasma burns, we're getting onto the fastest boat this things got and getting out of the battlezone. From there you'd be our... protection."

"The Cole Protocol would ensure that the Covenant have nothing to find," Skye answered, "Where would you go if you evacuated the ship?"

<< That wouldn't be important at the time. What would be important would be getting away. If we can grab something with an SF, we'd be golden, but chances are we wouldn't be so lucky, so we'd just fly and fly and fly. If they try anything other than blowing us up, we have our plans, don't worry >>

David nodded, sitting down.
"As long as we get away from the Covenant, we'll be safe. Trust me."

"Fuck, let's keep moving!" Daniel barked, and got Dragon squad moving down the hall. "Be ready for anything; Chris keep a grenade ready."

"UNSC Iris, move to the left flank. Aim the MAC at the Covenant Destroyer currently eviscerating the UNSC Paradise Lost."  

Rika tracked but missed the Skirmisher as he flashed by. Cursing, she opened fire again.
Blaze followed behind them.
"Requiem, got any scans?"
"No. Plug into a console if you can and I'll do my best." He replied.

"Find a console, we'll cover you," Chris said as she kept her shotgun ready. "Make it fast though, no telling how much breathing room we've got here."

Rika moved forward, heading fast. Soon enough a console corner was found.
"Plugging in...Cover me."

The other two Spartans took positions in the L shaped intersection, covering the halls. "We're running low on time. Ten minutes." Lina said as Rika plugged in.
"Searching for layout. Give me a minute."

Rha' watched the large three piece door slide open, as the company moved forward, arriving finally in the large hangar, Rha' stopping and ordering the Spec Ops operatives and Mgalekgolo to circle the human and escort her to the ship.

It was mostly empty now, the hangar. Jiralhanae and Kig-Yar had been called to the second hangar, brig, and engines to defend those key locations, most Sangheili were stationed in defense of the brig and most of the Unggoy by now...
It wasn't nice to think about.
Rha' stood on one of the many bordering walkways of the hangar, the door behind him closing. Within a few moments every door in the hangar would lock down, and they'd be able to get off of the ship.

"Major Sesa 'Vadamee, what is your status?"

Silence, shrouded by the roars of Sangheili and the squawks of Kig-Yar. Rha' didn't know it, but they were welcoming the T'vaoan, who had arrived en masse.

"I'll give you half!" Daniel barked as he kept his gun trained on the hall. "Chris you see anything?" She shook her head, not seeing a thing. "You'd think we'd be getting swarmed by Grunts or something," she said.

"Go left then right. Straight fornone hundred meters then break left again. Follow the corridor as it goes and you should find the brig roughly five thousand meters away. Its a long way off, so go fast. Nine minutes. Monroe says he will give a five minute grace period before the nuke impacts, and ten seconds before deronation."

Siri padded carefully, stumbling a bit here and there. She felt exposed and already dead, but remained silent.

"Do we really have enough time?" Daniel asked, despite already breaking into motion. Chris was behind him, as they made a break for the brig.

"You'll cut it close. We're losing the hangar too. Secondary escape route is plotted in that event. Until then proceed as planned." Requiem replied.

"Well then, we're fucked aren't we?" Daniel said, and there was a hint of humor to his voice. "Going loopy on us sir?" Chris said as she ran behind him. "Nope, just really find-holyshit!" he yelled as they rounded a corner, and came face to face with a squad of grunts led by a freaking Elite. "Take cover!" he yelled, ducking back behind cover before blue bolts of plasma singed the air his head had occupied moments before.

Slowly, the Eternal Perdition began to climb up, it's sides already locked up and sealed for exoatmospheric transport. The gravity lift activated, and the Sangheili, Kig-Yar, and Unggoy were lifted up into the troop bay, as the Mgalekgolo stood by it's side.

Rha' stepped forward, gripping the human by her neck and stepping her forward.
"If you try anything from now till our arrival, I can same presume you know what will happen."
With that, he pushed her forward, into the gravity beam.
By it's side, two other transports whirred into life, lifting their own numbers of the transferred crew. Of course, not the entire crew of the Prevailing Conviction had been brought across to the Frigate - just those that Rha' knew he could not do without. Special Operations Sangheili, Commandos, the specialised members of his crew. Even the Unggoy were mostly Special Operations.

Rha' watched, as the final dropship opened up quickly, letting the twin Mgalekgolo up into the bay.
The only personnel not onboard a ship now were Set and Rha'.

As the doors began to seal up around the hangar, Rha' pressed a small button on the side of the boarding bay. As two of the three dropships disembarked from the ship, another ship dropped down to fill one of their places. A fighter, and one of the last on the ship, Rha' moved over to it and climbed up on top, the hatch lifting up for him.

"The humans ship has been left for you to pilot. I would not trust anyone else."

"Grenade out!" Dan shouted as he grabbed a grenade from his belt and tossed it around the corner. The grunts panicked and screamed while the Elite stood his ground, roaring in challenge. The grenade exploded and shrapnel bounced off his shield as it flared in response. Then Daniel turned the corner, his assault rifle firing and rounds bouncing off the shield. The Elite fired, and plasma flew towards Daniel. He rolled to the side and out of the way, though the Elite charged him.

"Abort mission." Requiem said. "Her transponder has moved too far fromnthe brig....secondary hangar. Allnforces retreat immediately!" Requiem grimaced. "We can't do anything more, she's gone for now!"

Once in the ship, she stepped away from the Grav-Lift and pressed against a wall, shaking. She remained completely silent.

"A BIT FUCKING LATE FOR THAT!" Chris shouted as she fired her shotgun at the charging Elite. Her first shell missed, and the Elite reached out and grabbed Daniel by his neck and slamming him against the wall. It brought the plasma rifle up, about to blast the ODST's head off.

The Elite's head exploded, and Lina's sniper rifle smoked. A rocket flashed by and exploded, throwing everyone back towards the Spartans.
"Sorry about that."

Rika and Lina helped Dragon up. "We gotta run. Right now."

Daniel tried to stand.....and then collapsed, one leg buckling under him as he screamed in pain. "Jesus Christ!" he yelled, looking down. There embedded in his thigh, was a shard of metal, shrapnel from the rocket. "God dammit my suits been breached!" he yelled.

Rika knelt beside him.
She ripped the metal out and filled the wound with biofoam, then slapped a seal on from her kit. "Michael, help him. Dragon Squad, two back two mid. Me and Lina point. Let's roll."

Daniel shouted something less than generous at Rika, something about her parents. But he stood up once the biofoam sealed, and managed to push some of the pain away. But he wasn't going to be able to run. "Agh, dammit move!" he barked, and Chris, concern on her face, nodded and moved out ahead of him.

Michael supported Daniel. "I got ya." He grimaced as Lina opened fire.
"We have to run. Mike."
"Sorry Lieutenant." He easily threw Daniel into a firemen's carry. "Everyone run!"

Rika and Lina speinted forward, clearing a path.

"Okay......we are never talking about this. Ever," Daniel said sourly. "Or I will shoot you, and damn to hell whatever Siri says." Chris chuckled, and asked "What's wrong sir? Got something against being carried in the arms of a strong man?"

"Shut up and run." Rika scolded. "Banter and harass each other when we are safe. And no gay jokes, Michael might hurt you."
Mike remained silent.

Set nodded to Rha', "Thank you Rha'."

Set boarded the ship, and took to the controls.

As they ran down the hall, they soon emerged into the hangar bay. It was as much a mess as this whole mission, with crates thrown about, bodies laying on the floor, and even small fires started. "Let's get the hell out of here!" Daniel barked.

Rha' sat into the fighter comfortably, starting up the impulse drive and ensuring it was set up properly as it lifted off the ground.

The Ultra linked his comm with the Eternal Perdition, before shooting out of the hangar fast.

"The other ships are awaiting us, Set. I will cover your ascension, you and that human need to get out of the area."

A Pelican's ramped lowered.
"Sixty seconds to impact! Everyone but you have escaped."

It was true. Three Pelicans were covering them, then a fuel rod gutted the cockpit of one and sent it crashing down into the side door. "Fuck!"
Rika stopped and turned, opening fire. A few Grunts took cover behind a hurning scorpion as Mike thumped up the ramp.
"Go go go!" Lina shouted, throwing a grenade. "Fifteen seconds!"

At the words of his Ultra, Set began to navigate the ship out of the Frigate. With touch of a few controls, the Type-44 zoomed out of the hanger, entering space with such grace, such speed, that those ignorant in the capabilities of the this small ship would think it was thrown from the ship by some external means.

They got aboard, and the ramp closed behind them. "Punch it!" Daniel screamed.

Rha' rolled through the void of space, getting up behind the Eternal Perdition. Due to the location of the Exoneration, and the humans bizarre plan to barely engage the Frigate, there were few ships or fighters in their way.

But as the troop carrier moved on ahead of him, Rha' picked up two red dots closing in.
Quickly turning to intercept, Rha' spotted them - a duo of human bombers likely intent on taking out the dropships. The Ultra began to pepper the human ships with plasma, bringing one down with ease as the other rolled to avoid - and kept moving towards Set and the human.

"Set! Human fighter closing in!"

Rha' saw more red dots moving in, and was forced to ensure they got no closer to the ships. He was sure Set would be able to do his best now.

Meanwhile, onboard the Exoneration, fuel rods and plasma bolts battered the human dropships and personnel, not willing to let these invaders escape.

Lindsey lay on one of the seats in the pelican, her visor depolarised her eyes shut, a medic sprayed biofoam into a wound on her right thigh. Her right arm was gone at the elbow the wire smouldering ever so slightly releasing wisps of thin grey smoke, but not like it mattered to her it was after all a cybernetic replacement limb. The bionics could be easily replaced once the chance arose. If it was not that would simply mean the end of her career as a ODST.
Her eyes flickered open at the sounds of her squad. "You made it" She said wearily, she had become separated early on in the battle and with her armour battered, scorched and bloodied it as it was, clearly the fight to hold the hanger had gone poorly.

"We made it," Chris panted as she corrected Lindsey. They were a team after all.

Set smiled as only a T'voaon could. Set regarded the bomber cooly, such a subpar ship to be using here. As Set was flying, and evading the bomber, he noticed that it's only armament, was what he could only describe as some human turret. The shots were easy enough to avoid, but Set didn't want to take chances. He took the Type-44 through a series of evasive maneuvers, eventually leading the bomber to it's doom, at the hand of another Covenant ship.

Lindsey did not have the strength to disagree, fighting with just one limb functional... Crap, another award her way or a promotion. "Did you win?" She inquired, removing her helmet awkwardly with a shaking left hand before picking up her water canteen and struggling to remove the lid with one hand. Lindsey vented her frustration by tossing the device at the side of the craft with a clang.

"I don't think so," Daniel said. "We didn't get the prisoner. Requiem, where's Siri?"