User:Baracuss/Ascetic Chronicles

Chapter 01: Infiltration
The wind howled over the snow covered, wasteland as if to scare off anyone who dares to cross it. Huge mountains cascaded from the horizon far off to the east, while to the west a large canyon cut into the earth. A huge structure pierced through the snow just to the north. The shadow of the ring’s band made the landscape all the more frigid and unwelcoming, but that didn’t stop the being slowly making his way towards the Installation’s control room. The Creature is one of the Sangheili race, a species of fierce, proud, strong, intelligent warriors, and skilled combat tacticians, commonly known as the Elites. But this lone Sangheili is not an ordinary worrior, he is an Ascetic Elite, the best of his kind, and he is on a mission. The Elite lept and bounded over the frozen teraine, his movements, unhesitant, and his speed, unwavering.

On his left hip was a standard Type-25 Plasma Rifle, on his right hip was a deactivated Type-1 Energy Sword that he had personalized to his likeing, and on his back, a Type-51 Carbine held tight as the Elite dived and manuvered over and around rocks and boulders. His Commanding Officer had offered him a Type-32 Ghost RAV but the Ascetic prefered it this way. Besides, the sound of the RAV would automaticly warn any Loyalist forces in the area. The Halo ring orbited so that the system’s star could light the path before him. The sunlight shown off his purple armore in a dazzling display, but the Ascetic imediantly slowed his progress and took cover. Shining amore is like a signal flare to Kig-yar or Jiralhanae Snipers. Luckaly, numerous thunderheads swarmed overhead, and blotted out the star’s light once again.

The Ascetic was getting closer to the large, Forerunner structure ahead, and he heard the faint humming of Covenant Ghosts, Wraiths, Banshees, and even a Phantom. He was in for a fight, that was obvious, but the Elite’s main objective was to secure a Landing Zone for his fellow Ascetics so that they can eliminate all hostile targets around the Halo’s Library, and secure the Index so that it will not fall into Loyalist hands. They cannot let the villainous Prophet of Pestilence activate the Halo Array. The Ascetic came to the edge of a large drop-off and peered over. It wasn’t a very long way to the bottom, he wasn’t worried about that. However, there were three to four Ghosts on Patrol and, hidden nearby, was a Type-25 Wraith heavy assault vehicle. The Ghosts were no problem, he could easly pick them off one by one, but the Wraith made things difficult. He had seen what it’s Mortar Cannon can do to an infantry movement, and if it’s equiped with twin automated Plasma Cannons on the “wings” of the tank or a singled, manned Plasma Cannon just above the driver’s hatch, boarding it will also be a hassel. He scanned the rest of the area; high above him near the top of the Library was a Type-52 Phantom Troop Carrier which could hold up to 16 Brute warriors, even more if it was carrying Grunts! Circling the Phantom were two Type-26 Banshee Ground Support Aircrafts. Again this worried the Ascetic. Once he cleared an L.Z. and the Separatist Phantom that had been following him deactivates it’s Active Camouflage, the Banshees could bear down upon them with their Mounted Fuel Rod Cannons. The Ascetic shook his head, he shouldn’t be worried, he’s an Ascetic! He had stared Death in the face more then once durring his life, this time made no difference! He took cover behind a rock and drew his Energy Sword, careful as not to alert any Sharp-Eyed Jackals to his position. He activated his own Active Camouflage device and a liquid-like transparency washed over him, and he vanished from sight. He lept off the edge of the Drop-Off and landed silently on the snow covered ground below. The snow storm that had befallen the area soon became his ally as it covered his tracks.

Chapter 02: Clear the L.Z.
The Ascetic rushed past a File of Unggoy and seached for the Wraith. He approched some kind of quary where a few captured Separatist forces were excavating more Forerunner facilities beneath the Library. Watching over them was a Lance of Brutes, Jackals, and Grunts, along with the Mortar Tank.

“Damn… this just became much more difficult…” The Ascetic whispered to himself. He activated a Private Communications Channel to his Commander in the Cloaked, Separatist Phantom, “Excellency, it’s seems that we have an alternative objective… there is a quary of Separatist prisoners near the base of the Library, they are gaurded by a Loyalist Lance and a Mortar Wraith.

“Understood ‘Mentanics… Clear the Landing Zone first and we will see what can be done once we are on the ground,” The Com Channel went dead. The Ascetic, Ora ‘Mentanics, proceeded with his original objective. The Elite picked out a spot were the Phantom can disperse it's troops without the major risk of being spoted or destroyed. He silently killed the three Grunts that were in the area, and informed his Commander that a Landing Zone was secure, “Understood. Cover our landing ‘Mentanics, I do not wish to have a ‘Warm Welcome’, as the Humans put it,” The Commander said over the Com. Ora replaced his Energy Sword on his hip, drew his Covenant Carbine, and took cover behind some boulders. He heard the Cloaked Phantom drop down behind him, and the snow started to swirl around the L.Z. The dropship then became vissible long enough to drop off four other Ascetic warriors, then vannished again.

“Commander…” Ora bowed toward the Ascetic in golden armore, “Four Ghosts on patrol, Two Banshees circling above, a Mortar Wraith, and a Loyalist Phantom. My estimate is around fifty Loyalists,” Another Ascetic in White armore approached him, a Major.

“You are an Ascetic Stealth, ‘Mentanics,” The Major said, “You could have eliminated at least fifteen of those mongrols before we landed,”

“If I had done that, 'Otamics… Your Phantom might have been destroyed by the Banshees before you could escape from it. You should be thanking me…” Ora said, smiling within his helmet,

“Enough…” Commander 'Ardromics said steping between the two, “If you two keep arguing you’ll give away our position to the Loyalists…” The Commander servade the area, taking in the various spots that they would try to avoid and then delivered his orders, “Ora, I barely see the Barrel of a Type-50 Particle Beam Rifle upon that ridge,” The Commander said pointing, “Retreive it for me…”

“Yes excellency!” Ora said as he vannished from sight,

“Thel, Cairo… see if you can commendeer some of those Ghosts,” The Commander said to the Major in White Armour, and a Minor in Steel Armore. The two Ascetics drew their weapons, and moved out, staying undercover the best they could until Ora took out the Sniper. “Draken…” The Commander said looking toward a Young Ascetic in blue armore. The Young Elite was still only a student, but he was the son of one of the Sanghelios High Councilors and had been trained well, “Your with me youngling… Lets try to eliminate the Wraith and free those Separatist Prisoners.”

Chapter 03: Assault
Thel ‘Otamics and Cairo ‘Mansanics waited patiently behind a boulder until one of the Four Ghosts made it’s way towards the Ascetics. As it went past Thel lept from his cover and knocked the Grunt out of the Pilot’s seat, and killed the pleading, bipedal alien. Cairo hid the Ghost and the body of the Grunt, while Thel got into position to eliminate the threat of a second Ghost.

“Humph… This is becoming extreamly easy…” Thel had said, after killing another Grunt rider,

“Indeed, brother… Commander ‘Ardromics is becoming too confident in Ora and Draken… thus he gives us the easier missions…” Cairo said, hiding the body, “It has begun to irritate me…”

“I agree, brother… Commander Antairious would not be this iritating if he were still living… but I wish on him all the pleasures that the afterlife will bring him…” Thel said, replacing his Plasma Rifle’s battery pack as he waited for another Ghost.

The Jackal scaned the whole area around the Library. It’s saw nothing, but it had heard the distinctive sound of a Phantom eminating from the western side of the encampment. It was puzzling, and frightful at the same time. The Jackal had heard that the Separatist Phantoms had an Active Camouflage device. Could a Phantom have slipped in under his watchful eyes? Did it drop off a Creche of Special Opperations Elites? It might have continued to think of such things, but Ora didn’t give it a chance. His Energy Sword plunged through the Jackal’s frail body and killed the Bird like alien instantly. Ora burried the carcass under the snow and confesscated it’s Beam Rifle. Through it’s scope he could see the locations of the rest of his teammates: The Commander and the Ascetic Student were heading towards the quary, while Thel and Cairo were killing off the last Ghost. He left his Carbine with the dead Jackal and replaced it with the Beam Rifle, then Vanished again. Draken drew the hilt of his Energy Sword, but didn’t activate it. The Commander had ordered him to remain on the edge of the quary until the rest of the Ascetics arrive. The Commander himself had moved to the far side, and Draken was waiting for his signal. He suddenly felt a firm grip on his shoulder. As he twirled around he activated his energy sword and brought the blade up to Ora’s neck.

“Calm yourself, Draken! Save your energy for the Loyalists…” Ora said, lowering Draken’s arm,

“My apologies, Ora…” Draken said, deactivating his sword. Thel and Cairo walked up beside them.

“You almost lost a mandible, Ora…” Cairo taunted, “Any closer, and others would be mistaking you for Rtas ‘Vadum…” Even Ora laughed at this, remembering the Spec-Ops Commander’s appearance.

“Ascetics…” Draken said, pointing towards the Commander. He was giving the signal, “Time to go…” he activated his sword and made his way done into the quarry.