TITLE: Out of the Blue

CHAPTER 3

LOCATION: Forerunner Base

AN: All descriptions of HAL0 4 weapons and alien enemies are used here without permission for entertainment purposes only. Link


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It is not the politicians

With their compromise and ploys,

Who won for us the freedom

That our county now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger,

With your enemies at hand,

Would you really want some cop-out,

With his ever waffling stand?

Or would you want a Soldier-

His home, his country, his kin,

Just a common Sailor,

Who would fight until the end.


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The Longsword touched down quietly in a small clearing approximately five clicks from Cortana's signal.

"Good timing, it's the middle of the night cycle in this hemisphere."

Master Chief nods as he checks his weapons.

"John, he says, unbuckling his harness and moving to mid-ship. You need to know something. There's no way they would have allowed you to make this trip. They consider Cortana a casualty of war. The mission vids and your reports confirm she is not viable. Resources are spread thin and Infinity requires extensive repairs after Del Rio's handling of her."

"Understood, sir. I appreciate your support-"

"-Come on, Chief. I haven't seen action in years, let's get going."

"Wait. There will a time out there where you'll run out of ammo or your gun will jam. You must at all times be cognizant of weapons lying on the ground. We can only win this assault by using weapons dropped by the enemies we kill. Some of the elites carry energy swords. It is very tempting to pick one up. They are elegant weapons. Thomas, it requires quick reflexes and skill to use one without getting yourself killed in the process. The best strategy is to keep a long and short-range weapon with you at all times.

"I'm not a complete NUB, Master Chief. I do hold a pistol and rifle expert marksman rating."

"Good, then take the sniper rifle."

"Can I keep the shotgun?"

"You've seen the vids of the Promethean soldiers?"

"Sure, but…"

If a Knight charges you, that shotgun will be the last weapon you ever use. You don't want to go down trying to reload a shotgun while a Knight Battlewagon rips your head off as Crawlers work their way up your legs do you?"

"Point taken, Master Chief."

"There's also a flying weapon, called a Watcher. They heal and assist the crawlers and can take you out by hurling ordnance back at you. If you take them down with the sniper rifle, I can handle what's on the ground. If we meet any Covies, the elites are best taken out at a distance."

Master Chief reaches out and flicks one of the buckles closed on Lasky's neck armor then gives him a quick slap on the top of the helmet.

"Ready, sir?"

"Ready, Master Chief."

They drop to the jungle floor and Master Chief indicates the Commander to take point. For the first mile, they walk undisturbed through dense tropical foliage along a narrow animal trail. With only the night sounds of the insects and nocturnal predators for company.

"So John, what do you think of Sarah Palmer?"

"Commander Palmer? I have not thought much about her. Although, she appears a capable officer."

"More than that, she's smart and funny and-"

"-A Spartan."

"So Spartan's don't go for a coffee or dinner or-?"

"-Where would you rather have Commander Palmer? Manning her post in CIC managing her Spartans or across the table from you? She has a job to do, sir. I'm afraid you'll find her quite single-minded about that."

"There you go again. Soldiers and people are not two different things. She has to eat some time doesn't she?"

"You work with her daily on Infinity, have you ever seen her take time to eat or rest?"

"Well, actually no. Been wondering about…"

Master Chief stopped, holding up his hand, indicating the Commander should stop as well.

"There are Covenant soldiers ahead. Let's try to skirt around them. Remember to keep your distance. I would not wish you to become injured."

"Injured? By the soldiers…? Wait. You mean Palmer? She might…?"

Master Chief moved off, leaving Lasky no choice but to follow. After successfully moving around the small camp of soldiers, they forged ahead.

"Chief!"

At the same moment, Master Chief heard Lasky's hiss of warning, he also heard the familiar sound of grunt chatter. They whirled as one. The jungle floor erupted in the chatter and skittering movements of Covenant Grunts.

Master Chief downed three of them with the butt of his assault rifle. Lasky did the same on the four that came his way. They fought until the jungle was again quiet.

Then Master Chief leapt at Lasky pulling him down into the foliage. As he fell, he fired his assault rifle into the trees. A flash of light and the impact of an explosion rolled over them.

"What was that?"

"Two more Grunts."

"I could have gotten them."

The Spartan shook his head. "Did you notice they both carried live grenades?"

"So much for staying quiet."

"Commander Lasky, please stay here and be quiet and still. That Elite will come looking for the Grunts and the site of the explosion."

"But I can help."

"Please."

The Elite crept through the jungle, using all its senses to sniff out trouble. When Master Chief saw the elite's head come up and look in their direction, he made one last signal to Lasky and pulled his combat knife from his boot.

Commander Lasky gripped his weapon to keep himself still. It wasn't that he wanted to run. He wanted to stand up and take that Covenant son-of-bitch out himself. Take him out for all the good men and women he'd lost in this war. The adrenaline still pumped through him and the desire to move, to do something was almost overwhelming. Bastard.

The Elite stepped into the smoky clearing. The reeking smell of the thing filled the area around the two humans. After shaking its head, it noticed Commander Lasky crouched on the ground. The creature roared in triumph and moved toward the Commander. Something distracted it and as it turned to identify the movement, the last thing it saw was a flash of moonlight on the blade of a combat knife. Master Chief pulled the knife down hard and quick as it slashed deeply through flesh and tendons. Alien blood gushed from its throat and hands clawed the air as it dropped to the ground and quickly bleed to death at their feet.

"You wanna give it a kick?" The Master Chief asked, pointing at the still quivering alien with his rifle.

"That won't be necessary. We'd better keep moving. Maybe we should contact Cortana."

"Cortana? Cortana, come in."

Chief? Where are you?

"Not far. Were you able to ascertain your status?"

Still the same: I see myself reflected over and over. Like when you look at several mirrors.

"I've been thinking about that. Do you think it's a representation of your fragmentation?"

Of course!

"So how will we gather you back together, Cortana?"

Hang on a minute, John. It's taking me longer to process data in this state.

"Take your time, Cortana."

But we don't have time, Chief.

"No. We have as long as it takes."

You will need to locate a forerunner data chip. Shouldn't be too much of a problem. Right?

"Master Chief," Lasky pointed with his weapon indicating the roofline of the Forerunner structure now visible in the distance.

"See any Covies?"

"Negative," he answered looking through the sniper rifle scope.

The rest of their walk was uneventful and as they descended into the small valley where the Forerunner base sat oddly quiet.

"On me, sir. These bases are predictably laid out. Cortana, we are entering the structure."

Then, I will see you soon? John, I need you.

"I told you I always keep my promises."


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AN: This is probably too short, but it seemed like a logical place to stop.

Navy Slang: "NUB" Non usable body

A Poem for Soldiers and Sailors

He was getting old and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion,
Telling stories of the past.

Of a war that he once fought in
And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies;
They were heroes, every one.

And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors
His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened quietly
For they knew where of he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For ol' Bob has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer
For a Soldier died today.

He won't be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary,
Very quiet sort of life.
He held a job and raised a family,
Going quietly on his way;
And the world won't note his passing,
'Tho a Sailor died today.

When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell of their life stories
From the time that they were young
But the passing of a Soldier
Goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution
To the welfare of our land,
Some jerk who breaks his promise
And cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow
Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country
And offers up his life?

The politician's stipend
And the style in which he lives,
Are often disproportionate,
To the service that he gives.

While the ordinary Sailor,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps a pension, small.
It's so easy to forget them,
For it is so many times
That our Bobs and Jims and Johnnys,
Went to battle, but we know,

It is not the politicians
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom
That our country now enjoys.
Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out,
With his ever waffling stand?

Or would you want a Soldier–
His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Sailor,
Who would fight until the end.

He was just a common Soldier,
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us
We may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict,
We find the Soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles
That the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor
While he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage
At the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simply headline
In the paper that might say:

"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
A SOLDIER OR A SAILOR DIED TODAY."