Halo: The Damned

Halo: The Damned follows Kasr 'Revsaree as he not only tries to avenge his people in the midst of the Brute's genocidal betrayl but also break through one enemy's territory to another to deliver a most important message. A peace offering.

The Story
Halo: The Damned

Chapter 1: Betrayal
Kasr ‘Revsaree cradled the wound in his lower abdomen, the spike in it still boiling hot. The wound would not kill him, not today. Zarpa crouched down beside the corpse of Tawag and gently brought his fingers of his eyes, shutting them. Kgaswa reloaded his needler then looked around.

“Sir, the Brutes, were are they?”

“They have retreated with their tails between their legs, the mongrel bastards.” Major Idatesee said, walking up towards them.

The floor was blood stained, patches of purple and vibrant blue blood covered every surface. The normal sheen of the purple walls was dulled by the blood. The Battlecruiser, the Night Bane, was now a battleground, not against the humans, but against the Brutes. And Elite in dark green armour with silver decorations knelt beside him and laughed.

“This is no serious injury my brother.”

Kasr looked to the Elite and clicked his jaws. He was a strange one amongst the Elites. While many in military training focused upon ending the lives of the enemy, he focused upon saving the lives of his brothers, though he himself had proven himself in combat. His position was deemed ‘undesirable’ by the society norms of the Sangheili. He removed the spike and began to seal and dress the wound.

“You best go see the commander… he is worried about you.” He whispered

“My brother… has enough to worry about.” Kasr said somewhat uncaringly

“Go ease his worries, he only cares for his younger sibling.”

He stretched himself out and then looked across the deck. This had previously been a recreation area but now… it was something different. About three hours ago a communiqué from the Prophet of Truth was broadcast to every ship in the fleet. The Elites had betrayed the Covenant and attacked the Prophet. No matter what had been said, now the Brutes were attacking the Elites. In two hours the fleet was either decimated or the ships were being battled for control. The Elites had only just defeated the Brute held ships and now focused on securing the last few. Swarms of Grunts forced onwards by the Brutes charged forward, followed by the Brutes. Only six Lances had been on hand to deal with the offensive. That has only six Minor Elites, Three Majors, six Major Grunts and Twelve Minor Grunts. They had gone up against triple their number. They had just five Grunts and three Elites left. Now their reinforcements had arrived and the ship was secure. Kasr could breath a sigh of relief. He did however, cede to his brothers request. He travelled to the bridge of the cruiser, and armoured room deep in its bowels. There holographic screens glowed brightly and displayed information on the battle at hand. On the central pedestal a single Elite stood, bedecked in golden armour. He turned at the arrival of Kasr and opened his arms wide and walked towards him.

“Little brother, you are safe!”

“Thanks to the sacrifice of my comrades. We held the deck against their offensive.”

“Well done Kasr, how many did you send to hell?”

“I believe my lance took down 13 Grunts and 7 Brutes.”

“Impressive. I think you are deserving of a promotion.”

Kasr sighed. He never wanted to be a warrior. He just wanted to follow a simple life. Of all things he wanted to be a artist. There was few in the Sangheili race who approved of such things. However, though he lacked a interest in military matters, he was excellent at them. It was after all, in his genes.

“Brother, come with me.” He said, bidding Kasr to follow him to his chambers. A Major Elite stood guard outside and saluted him as he past him. Once inside he pulled off his helmet and laid it down upon his tactical holo map.

“Things… look bleak…” He said, his voice down-heartened. He pressed a number of holographic keys and a hologram of an Elite appeared. He bore silver armor, not of an Ultra but of a Spec Ops commander.

“Brothers, the Prophets and the Brutes, they have betrayed us! I declare a call to arms, we must rally our fleets, counter attack them! The Great Journey, it was a fabrication, a lie! The Halos are not the key to the great journey, this has been told to me by the Arbiter, he lives yet, hunting down the Prophet of Truth!”

Kasr crossed his arms and looked to his brother, Ero ‘Zemsaree. Though terming him brother was some what incorrect. They were half brothers, same mother, different father. While they were both raised by the same man, Kasr’s real father was a Swordsman, Aru ‘Vesnakee. His older brother was still extremely protective of him which sometime smothered him but he knew he only did it because he cared.

“The admiral of the fleet was slain by the Brutes, as was the Councillor with us but… we avenged their deaths, we boarded and captured the vessel carrying the Prophet. Now I am in command of the fleet… the other ship masters are less experienced than me. I will be transferring across to the Assault Carrier soon but I have something for you brother.”

He brought up the holographic display of the fleet, showing the fleet and the world they orbited. On the surface a Brute force defeated the Sangheili forces and took control of the surface. It was a jungle world where they had been excavating a forerunner temple. He had never held much reverence to the Forerunners or they Great Journey, his family was made of sceptics but to let to Brutes control it was stain on their honour.

“So what is it you wish me to do brother?”

“I want you to go in on the assault force, help to take back that structure. I am sending in a strike force, led by the Ultra, Kadonaee. I want you to go as his second in command.”

“What are the force dispositions?”

“Our first wave is an assault pod force, 15 Elites, they are to secure our landing zone, next wave is our dropship infantry, led by you. Four dropships, you will have a Hunter pair. You will make way for our landing of Wraiths.” Kasr nodded and saluted him.

“It will be done brother.”

He left and walked forward before gripping his wound. It would not matter, there were Brutes to defeat.

Chapter 2: From Heaven
Kasr felt uncomfortable in his crimson armour. He felt undeserving of his rank, he had, after all, most likely been promoted by his brother because he could abuse his position of power. He always talked about it like that to others but many saw him as deserving. He twitched his jaws them tightened his grip around his plasma rifle. This was the command Phantom, with the officers awaiting landing. There were four other Major Elites and their Ultra commander. On with them was their Hunter pair, a fearsome pair of walking artillery platforms. Also with them was a handful of other Elites, including the healer who had helped him earlier, Jado ‘Vraestee and an pair of Spec Op Elites who didn’t reveal their names. Their sole purpose was to act as their scouts and forward sniper.

“What is the situation?”

“We have neutralised their anti aircraft defences in the clearing, come and land.”

Kasr gave his rifle one last check. It was fine. Something worried him about this mission. He was about to finally loosen up a little when there was a serious of dull thuds, followed by explosions and the Phantom shook wickedly. The side exploded outwards, blowing the ramp out and sucking one Elite straight out into the air.

“They have hidden positions, deceitful beasts!” the pilot called out.

Another Elite was almost sucked out when a Hunter out stretched its shield arm and caught him. There was another burst of flak and the ship lost all control. Kasr simply held on. The crash was terrifying, the cockpit dipping into the ground and being sheared off then the Phantom flipped twice before coming to a rest on its belly at the edge of the clearing. There was a single grunt of pain as Kasr gradually recovered to his senses. Kadonaee briskly held the spike of metal sticking through his chest.

“Accursed Brutes… they have caused me a dishonourable injury, Healer, quickly, help me with this so I may exact my revenge!” The Ultra demanded

Jado moved over to him and shook his head.

“I am afraid, it is fatal… if I remove this spike… you will bleed to death. There is nothing I can do.”

“Ugh… I will not be so easily defeated. Not yet.” He grunted. He looked to Kasr than made him feel uneasy then tossed him his Energy Sword. He caught it deftly then looked between the sword and Kadonaee.

“Lead us… to victory…”

He pulled himself off the spike and stood up for a few moments and roared in defiance before falling to his knees. Blood gushed from his chest. He looked to Kasr and gave him an almost soul piercing look.

“Avenge me.”

He fell down and finally died. Kasr looked at the blade then attached it to his thigh and looked to his comrades.

“We shall enact his final desire. To war!”

The Elites roared in defiance and the Hunters gave a terrible rumble sound. The Hunter pair knocked away the wreckage and trotted out, followed by the Elites and met with the Elites who had gone in on the first wave.

“What has happened, I thought you silenced their guns?”

“They must have more, hidden in the jungle!”

Across the clearing the rest of the first wave helped the Elites and Grunts of the second Phantom but the third was no so lucky. It had exploded, showing the clearing with parts of it and the fourth was missing.

“This is acting commander ‘Revsaree to fleet, delay the third wave!”

“Why, what is the problem?”

“They have more heavy guns, hidden in the jungle. Until we deal with them, we cannot do anything more.”

“Understood, good luck.”

He clicked off his comms and then looked to the wreckage of the Phantoms. Neither would fly, ever again.

“Take the plasma cannons from the wreckage, we can still use them in battle.”

“This is the Phantom gunship Vengeful Falcon, you have hostiles, incoming.”

“What of you, what happened?”

“When the artillery started going off I got low, I am coming in for landing now.”

A Phantom gunship based over head and circled round briskly before it neared the surface. The ramps dropped and the Elites and Grunts onboard disgorged and took cover.

“I will remain on station, my heavy arms will be an aid.”

He looked to the Phantom gunship as it rose back up. It was an enigma amongst Covenant air powered. It was essentially and overpowered dropship, like the early Phantoms and the later, it mounted a nose plasma cannon and a rear pair of guns but instead of plasma cannons it mounted two fuel rod guns. Like the later models it sported a pair of side decks but these had been up armed with two plasma cannons each.

“What can you see brother?”

“Three choppers, followed by two Prowlers and a Wraith. There are Banshees also, be careful.”

“Take over in the wreckage of our phantoms, get the fuel rod guns trained on the Wraith. Use the plasma cannons for their choppers.” He ordered the Heavy Grunts and Elites who had taken the Plasma Cannons. He then turned to the Spec Ops Elites and pointed to the top of one of the wrecked Phantoms.

“Engage your stealth, get up there, take aim for the Prowler’s gunners. We can make use of them later.”

“It will be done.” They said, turning and moving away. One of the Majors moved up and clicked his jaws in an agitated manner.

“Why must we capture their vehicles? I would rather walk a thousand units than drive that with one.”

“I value survival and completion of our mission over honour, I will not let it be the death of us.”

The Elite looked at him and gave a huff, part respect, part admission of defeat. He went with the others to take cover as the thrum of crude engines neared them. A chopper burst into view and began to drive straight between the downed ships, followed by the others. There was a burst of fire as the plasma cannons opened up, bathing them in scorching hails of searing plasma. Plasma fire from pistols and needlers opened up, followed by deadly accurate Carbine fire. The first was simply swamped in fire and destroyed and the next had its driver killed. The third arrived and immediately drove straight to the second Phantom and was flipped by a Fuel Rod strikes, sending it tumbling end over end. The Brute was thrown free and then killed by Carbine fire from the Healer. The Prowlers came into view and did as Kasr expected. He had to fight with these beasts before, on another battlefield against the humans. He watched as they drove straight at the human squads moving around cover. They drive into the middle of them and disembarked then got annihilated in streams of fire. They stood no chance. He had to follow in later to mop up but by then the humans had left. He saw the Brutes use this tactic again as they drove their two prowlers between the Phantoms and disembarked. Only the gunners remained in but they were quickly silenced by two streams of purple light. The six that had dismounted charged his Phantom. Most were gunned down, one even exploded from the sheer volume of needles stuck in him but one, a captain, charged in with his Spiker, raising it like a hatchet. He never stood a chance. Kasr cut him from his right shoulder to his left side, dismembering him with the Energy Sword. There was no going back for him now. He reaffixed it to his tight and ran to the cover of the Prowler as plasma mortars rained down, almost blinding him. There was a terrific explosion, narrowly missing a Phantom. A second blob struck the other but its hull still hold firm, at least for the time. Fuel Rod guns were fired back, striking one and damaging before the plasma cannon pinned them. The Hunters barged their way out and fire their guns, hammering the side of the wounded thing, piercing its hull and destroying it. Its fins blew off in a ball of purple fire and fire burned up and out of its turret. The other turned as the Hunter’s guns recharged and its gun’s axis lowered to aim straight at them. It couldn’t miss them. A large shadow passed over head and shot several balls of sun hot green fire down onto it in quick succession, punching through its hull and destroying its fragile internal systems. It exploded violently, sending chunks of metal high into the air. The gunship circled around as the three banshees descended on it. Plasma scored its hull and several fuel rod strikes hit its hull, to no effect. Kasr ran to the Prowler and immediately leapt into its turret and turned it on the target. He began to fire, as did Jado in the second Prowler, followed by some of the ground positions. The Phantom circled and lowered one of its gun ramps and opened fire with its two plasma cannons and its nose mounted gun as the Banshees past it’s flank. It covered in a wave of blue-purple fire and destroyed, sending its molten debris to the ground. As one broke off to run a strafing run Kasr and Jado took it out with combined fire. One slipped In on the side and pelted the area with fire and a pair of fuel rod shots. It passed over the Phantom wreckage and suddenly seemed to spin and then opened up. The Brute pilot fell out then the ship climbed back into the air.

“We have a Banshee.” The Spec Ops spotter reported. That was impressive.

“Land her, let another pilot take her, we have a new task.”

“Yes sir.”

“I want the wounded and the Grunts to remain here, you to Healer, entrench yourselves, be ready.” I want someone to mount up into the Banshee, guard our Gunship. I want our Majors and Spec Ops on the Prowlers, leave me a seat, all the unwounded Elites to that Gunship. Pilot, did you triangulate were those guns are?” Kasr said calmly and coolly, like he was born to battle and to lead.

“Yes, three of them, hidden in a disguised clearing, some 700 Units away.”

“Stay low, remain on station. We will hunt them down.” He said, walking out to one of the Prowlers. The Spec Ops sat on each of its personnel sleds while one of the Majors sat behind the wheel. Kasr climbed into its gun turret and tried to get comfortable. The thing was designed with Brutes in mind and was uncomfortable for is Elite physiology. He finally managed to squirm into a comfortable position and began to train the gun around. The other was armed up as one of the Elites took a Fuel Rod gun from a grunt and then they moved out into the Jungle.