User:Impurest Cheese/Jungles of Dosiac

Chapter 7 – Jungles of Dosiac
The arrival of the Shadow of Intent was critical and a pair of Seraph Fighters escorted the Nightshade Covert Transport to the main hanger bay. From the inside of the Nightshade several Honor Guard Elites sprang forth followed by a full armed team of Special Ops Elites and Grunts with the Arbiter and Rtas 'Vadum came out last.

The Arbiter moved forward leaving most of his entourage behind before heading to the auxiliary bridge where Kerst’ and Cage were located.


 * “I’m sorry to announce that I will be unable to aid you any further Spartan.” The Arbiter said, “But my security tells me that I am needed to make sure that the negotiations on Sanghelios go smoothly.”


 * “I understand.” Keith answered.


 * “I however, will be aiding you on the ground.” Rtas mentioned, “The Arbiter wishes me to remove Lepidus brother Kallabus.”


 * “In other words you are going on an Assassination then.” Claire said sarcastically.


 * The small party was moving through a supply corridor when the Brute Ossoona leapt from a ceiling vent smashing the Arbiter to the floor before attempting to take a bite out of the Elite’s neck. Before it could close its jaws the end of an Honor Guards Pike went threw the creatures stomach. The Brute turned throwing the Elite to the floor before a second Honor Guard severed the Brutes tendons dropping to the floor where it smacked the Elite in the face before being silenced forever.


 * From the vent where his brother had leapt Emberus watched and waited before following the party using the vent system to the auxiliary bridge where the group was headed. His father Lepidus had taught him patience and that failure would not be tolerated.


 * Helping the Arbiter to his feet Matt muttered, “Sorry we seem to have a pest problem.”

Even worse the Demons were asking him to come with them to destroy the Jiralhanae factory. Every one else on the bridge was awe struck and while Willow was reading the Intel received by Kane from Gnarrp, Emberus activated his recording device so the Prophets and his Father would know how to react.


 * “The Brutes have sensors that penetrate the five miles around the factory. There will most likely be patrols, jackal scouts and swarms of drones making the approach into the factory difficult at best.” Willow paused for questions.


 * “No Questions but the Brutes will most likely rigged traps and mined the forest floor.” Matt informed the group.


 * “Very good. Once inside we have two objectives. The first is to find any Brute Intelligence on the Brute Immortal project and the AI Cloning Lab. The second objective is fourfold requiring each of you to be in the following areas. Spartan 182 you will hit the Scarab Refuelling Centre, Spartan 221 you will be in the Geothermal Refinery, Spartan 219 will be in the Engineering Section while Spartan 115 will be in the Factory Control Room. Apart from 115 you will each be armed with a Tara Seismic Charge with 10 minutes on the clock for you to get out of the building. As for you 115 I will supply you an anti protocol worm that will cause the factory to malfunction.” Willow informed them.


 * “Who gets the runt?” Claire grunted pointing to Gnarrp.”


 * “Thanks for volunteering 182. You are required to be at the Nightshade at 01:00 hours. Briefing dismissed.” Willow ended transporting to the storage card that Keith held out.

On the way out Red Team had learnt that the Revolutionary had been to several Covenant Worlds and unpatrolled sectors of space delivering supplies to several Covenant Ships and Colonies. Cage had made the decision to use the ship to discover what the Covenant had ordered from the URF and what they had received in turn.

As the craft descended through Dosiac’s atmosphere and over a thick patch of jungle. The Nightshades bow doors opened and the Spec Ops Team repelled down on steel cables followed by Red Team. Upon hitting the forest floor the Spartans activated the stealth systems and moved off into the brush. :The first mile was the worst mentally despite a lack of Covenant Patrols appearing from the thick brush. Red Team did see several strange creatures that the Elites were just too happy to share horror stories about them severally reducing the morale of Gnarrp who with hands bound was at the front of the column. From up ahead rustling leaves and snapping twigs indicated that danger lay just ahead. Peering through the vegetation Rtas’ identified two Jiralhanae and six Unggoy salvaging equipment from a crashed Phantom Gunship. Silently four Elites activate their active camo while others readied carbines in order to silently take out their foes. On a single command from their leader three shots hit the grunts while the brute and the remaining grunts charged right to where the Elites were in ambush taking them out before they could even fire a single shot.

Further down a Grunt Patrol was spotted but only the Point Man and Rear Guard where actively checking the surroundings and as such all eight where taken out by Red Team and their Spec Ops Allies.

After twelve seconds of nervous searching the Radar Jammer was found and destroyed by James. It seemed that the corridor had been activated by a pressure plate and soon a trio of Jackals were upended from a hidden deployable lookout platform which had been sending messages to a Brute Outpost. The decision was made to continue down the path slowly looking for more traps and hidden enemies.

They were just reaching the four mile mark when the first casualties occurred when a Spec Ops Elite and a pair of Grunts activated a hidden Energy Sword from the trees that slashed out slicing all three into half. From then on the atmosphere darkened and the body count began to rise when the group entered a Jackal Nest with Beam Riffle and Needler Rounds bouncing all over the place. After clearing the nest only two Elite remained and all the Grunts were dead. Red Team remained intact and Rast’ was certain that they all could complete their missions.

As they moved threw the grove all hell broke loose with Drones swarming from the trees, Brute Stalkers materializing from every corner and Jackals popping out of Spider Holes in the floor. The ground rumbled and a Brute Ogre Tank smashed through the tree line its cannons fixed at the small group. From the balcony several Brutes armed with Carbines were ready to shoot on the slightest movement. Unphased Rast’ simply pressed a button and fire rained down from the sky as the Nightshade opened fire with its Plasma Torpedoes. Scattering the Elites ran one way while the Spartans leapt the other. After the debris settled the few remaining Brutes taking cover behind the Ogre Tank were easily picked off by Red Team.


 * On the Internal Comms System Rast announced, “Spartans we are heading towards the objective. The Nightshade is keyed into your NAV Markers and will be able to pick you up when ever you need.”


 * “Thank you commander and may the Gods aid you on your mission” Keith replied
 * “As with you Spartan.” the Elite replied and then the Comm. went dead.


 * “We have a single mile left to cover before we enter the area around the factory. From there the number and quality of troops and vehicles will have increased.” Willow informed.


 * “Is there any way we can get them to come to us?” Claire asked.


 * “I think I know how.” Matt said sneering down at Gnarrp.


 * Tek was bored with his work. He was in charge of monitoring communications with the patrols in the Dosiac jungle. He was just about to call one of the Unggoy over so he could take his frustration on the hideous creature when one of the patrols reported in.


 * “This is Gnarrp I was with patrol in jungle.” The grunt voice came over.


 * Great Tek thought now he was being prank called by one of those stunted dwarfs. In his own Kig-yar language he chattered back, “So what.”


 * “Me kill demons, lots of them in clearing south of here.” The grunt replied.


 * Tek turned to the Jiralhanae supervisor chattering for him to come over. To Gnarrp he barked, “How many demons.”


 * “Less then five but more then three,” was the reply, “Need pickup as Demons heavy.”


 * “We will be with you in five minutes.” Tek answered turning off the communicator before activating another barking down to the brutes in the Motorpool, “Demons sighted and killed in sector 7 send heavy lift gear and backup.” He put his feet up on the desk satisfied that he had done all he could.

As the first brute hit the ground the Trip Mines went off blowing the beast forward. Almost immediately James leapt for the Grav Lift jumping up the Hunter being deployed. Inside a Brute lunged with his Brute Shot part the Spartan responded pushing it back into the Grav Lift. Inside the cockpit the Grunt Communication Officer and Brute Pilot were ready showering spikes and needles into the cabin. Upon entry the Brute stumbled into the Energy Garrotte supplied by Rast strangling him immediately. Slamming the Grunt into the door enemy resistance on the Phantom had been negated.


 * On the ground the Spartans had cleared out all but the final Brute and the Hunter Pair. Using the forest as cover Claire and Gnarrp were reading a pair of Plasma Grenades to stealthily defeat their opponents. The Hunters turned and incinerated the forest with their Fuel Rod Cannons. Panicking Gnarrp threw his grenade sticking the Hunter in the face destroying it. The remaining Hunter went berserk igniting the whole glade before charging Claire smashing her with its shield.


 * Matt was running through the forest many thoughts on his mind as the Brute pursued him. He thought of Willow and the feelings he had for her, thought of what he would do for her. Keith was the problem if he killed the leader then he could stay with the one he loved. A pounding Brute Shot projectile brought him back to reality turning to see the creature bearing down on him ready to decapitate him with the blade of his weapon. From the trees above Keith dropped a Spike Grenade onto the Brute causing spikes to penetrate the Brute’s brain killing him instantly.


 * Keith turned to Matt, “You alright.”


 * “Yeah” Matt replied


 * “Let’s get a ride.” Keith replied running off into the brush.


 * James had finally got the Phantom to fire but the Hunter was to close to Claire and Gnarrp. Grapping the controls he slammed the Phantom floor wards in a move called the Keyes Slam. This move had been used by the late Captain Jacob Keyes on Alpha Halo to defeat a Hunter Pair on the Truth and Reconciliation. Swooping down he was able to slam the Hunter into the burning forest. The Hunter remerged burning and roaring before falling to the floor melting into a pool of orange foul smelling liquid.


 * “Thanks for the save James.” Claire said.


 * “Me also grateful for saving my life.” Gnarrp added.


 * “Willow can you get us into the landing pad.” Keith asked the AI.


 * “Can a Brute scratch his ass?” Willow replied.


 * “Probably.” Matt answered


 * “Enough Jokes we have a mission to do.” Keith reprimanded them before going up the Grav Lift


 * It took just over five minutes for the Phantom to reach the landing pad. Upon landing a problem occurred, the landing pad was full of Brutes, Grunts and Jackals with a pair of Shade Turrets waiting to fire. From the control room Tek watched the footage shot by the Drones that had been hiding in the trees.


 * Over the loud speaker Lepidus Barked, “Destroy the Ship”

Activating the Grav Lift and Cannons the Phantom began to return fire clearing out portions of resistance. From the Communications Centre Tek opened fire with the Beam Riffle hitting the throttle button in the Phantom’s cockpit. The Phantom accelerated slamming into the communications booth slamming Tek into the wall breaking every bone in his body. As the Phantom exploded Red Team ran into the vent system on the wall while the Covenant forces ran up to the booth to find the Spartans.


 * “Call in once you reach your destinations and then we will take it from there,” Keith instructed the rest, “and Red Team good luck.”


 * As the Spartans began to split up heading towards the different areas that they were meant to be hitting Lepidus activated the tracers that Dr Jerald had placed on the Spartans armour. Turning to the URF troopers and Brute workers that were spread around the Hanger he felt it was ready for Operation LANCER to begin.

“My soldiers get to the ship and prep it ready for takeoff. We must not fail or you will be left behind when the UNSC falls and the great journey begins.” Lepidus announced


 * Turning Lepidus looked down at a Brute Captain before giving him orders, “Send the Hazmat teams down to Sub Level 45 and start loading the specimens. Place a guard with them if a single canister breaks then we will be doomed.”


 * Lepidus glared at the Environmental Suited Jiralhanae and Mgalekgolo that were ready for duty before yelling, “Get going” at his subordinates before summoning one of his captains to his side, “Get the Immortals ready for battle, we will eat the flesh of the Spartans tonight.”


 * From the corner of the room a dozen brutes emerged equipped with green power armor and sniper riffles came foreword bowing to the Chieftain. With a single grunt the brutes moved out into the factory ready to hunt the Spartans before they reached their objectives.

Trail of Lies & Predators and Prey

 * The story of the Summer Mist’s crew will be told in the Fan Fic, Trail of Lies which deals with the URF-Covenant Remenant Alliance. Predators and Prey deals with Rtas’ hunt for Brute Chieftain Kallabus.

Characters

 * Spartan Red Team
 * Spartan 117
 * Spartan 182
 * Spartan 219
 * Spartan 221
 * WLW 0291-6
 * Gnarrp
 * Rtas 'Vadum
 * Thel 'Vadam
 * Brute Chieftain Lepidus
 * Tek
 * Unknown Brute Ossoona

Planets

 * Eradnius Asteroid Field
 * Dosiac

Weapons

 * Honor Guard Pike
 * Plasma Pistol
 * Needler
 * Energy Sword
 * Carbine
 * Brute Spiker
 * Brute Shot
 * Beam Rifle
 * Plasma Grenade
 * Spike Grenade
 * Brute Landmine

Vehicles

 * Type 71 Covert Operations Transport
 * Type 55 Land Clearance Vehicle
 * Type 52 Troop Carrier

Other

 * None