Marcus traveled up the gravity pillar to the cruiser’s bay. He had his plasma rifles ready at this sides, and checked their ammo percentage. 76% on both. Good enough for me. Marcus started to slow down at the opening of the cargo bay, and soon floated up to the deck, and landed with a soft thud. He had never been more scared in his life. All around him, Covenant soldiers moved around, moving crates to cargo bays, preparing landing craft for a full invasion (the ground forces had been scouts to root out and find any sources of resistance), and saw vehicles being hauled onto landing craft. Marcus stood, frozen.
i]Move Marcus, before they notice you! Without question, Marcus darted to a parked Wraith and crouched behind it. He craned his neck over the side of the mortar tank to see if anyone had noticed. They hadn’t seemed to.
Luna? Was that you?
Yes, I was following your movement with my telepathy, and was wondering WHY YOU ARE INSIDE OF THAT HULKING BEAST? Marcus sighed. He knew this would come, but he had hoped it would happen later, rather than sooner.
It’s part of my plan. The Covenant is preparing a full scale invasion, and they need to be stopped. I can do that from the inside by blowing up the main reactors in the engine room. If I can find some detonation packs in the armory of this ship, I can blow this thing at a safe distance. If not, then I’ll do what I can with grenades. There was utter silence. Marcus could hear Elites barking orders to Grunts. He had no idea what it was saying, but he hoped it wasn’t telling them to move the wraith.
Marcus, you understand the outcome if it comes to that yes? For both of you, and Fluttershy? Marcus sighed and bowed his head. He clenched his hand, moving to where the feather was stored.
Yes. I do.
Would you like me to put Fluttershy on? I can do it if you wish.
Not yet. When the time comes, then yes.
Very well. I will monitor your movement through the ship and keep track of you.
Understood.
Marcus stood up, looking for an exit. He saw one that wasn’t guarded, and activated his active camo. Sneaking past the soldiers, Marcus slipped through the door unnoticed into a long hallway. It ran straight, with a few off branching hallways that led to who knows where. Marcus only needed to know where two places were. The armory and the engine room. Marcus moved down the hallway, standing still when soldiers past. His armor ability was about to run out, and he needed to find someplace to recharge fast. Finding an off branch, Marcus followed it, till he found what looked to be crew quarters. Opening a door, Marcus rushed in as his active camo failed. He leaned against the wall, worried.
How am I going to find the armory? I can’t read this stuff, let alone understand what they’re saying. Marcus sighed, and looked around at the room he was in. It was small and humble, with a single bed at one corner and a desk in front of it. Next to the room in a corner sat a chest, and on further inspection, was full of clothing and personal items. This was the room of an Elite. Marcus looked around and inspected the desk. It had a picture on it, revealing an Elite major with his family, or clan as it were. Closest to him was a female; Marcus guessed it was his wife. Even they have families. Never thought about that before… Marcus looked away from the picture and noticed his camo was ready for use. Activating it, Marcus walked out of the room, right into the chest of a startled Elite Major. Reacting quickly, Marcus grabbed it, and flung it inside the room.
Drawing his knife, Marcus tackled the Elite, holding the blade close to the Elites neck. It struggled, holding onto for dear life as it fought to move the knife away, but the Spartan was stronger. Slowly, Marcus plunged the blade into its chest, clasping a hand over its mouth. The Elite struggled, until its last breath was heard escape its mandibles. Marcus stood, yanking the knife out. Small blood specs flew onto the picture on the desk. Marcus looked at it, and turned away, leaving the corpse behind with the memories of its family.
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Marcus had been wondering the ship for what seemed like hours. He had to stop twice to recharge his camo, and had to kill 2 more Elites, one of which was accompanied by a grunt. Marcus had killed them easily, and stowed the bodies away in small storage compartments. He moved down hallway after hallway, occasionally turning a corner into a new, longer hallway. He was lost and he knew it. On the rare occasion he had found a map out laying the ship, it was of no use. It only laid out the close areas. Marcus walked up to another map, hopeful. His prayers had been answered. 20 m down and to the right was a room that had an Elite’s plasma rifle over it.
If that’s isn't the armory I don’t know what is.
Marcus ran, closing in on his target. He rounded the corner, and found two massive purple double doors. Marcus stepped closer, and the doors hissed open. Inside was rack after rack of Covenant weapons. Marcus walked on, passing carbines, plasma rifles, and needlers, stopping when he found what looked to be a trophy section. Stepping in it, Marcus found tons of human weapons. Battle rifles, shotguns, SMG’s, assault rifles, anything and everything Spartan would need. Sadly though, no heavy weapons. Marcus dropped his carbine and grabbed a shotgun, loading it up with 6 rounds, and pocketed 24 more shells for it. Taking out his plasma rifles and dropping them, he grabbed the SMGs and clipped them to his hips, getting 5 mags for each. Marcus also found 2 frags, and pocketed those as well.
“Perfect.” Marcus nodded, and unslung his shotgun, walking back to the main room. He walked down to past regular Covenant weapons finding what he needed most. At the back lay a crate of detonation packs with the appropriate triggers for them. Marcus grabbed one, weighing it in his hand.
This could do a good bit of damage. More with the grenades attached.
I take it you have found the charges? Luna had once again startled him.
Yes.
Very well. Marcus grabbed another detonation pack and slung it over his shoulder, when a high pitched wailing sound stated up. A bright red light started to flash, and an Elite’s voice could be heard over the intercom.
They found the dead bodies! Shit! Marcus grabbed the shotgun by the pump and hauled it out of the armory. He entered the hallway, and ran in the direction he guessed was aft. He passed a bunch of grunts scrabbling around, and jumped over most of them, but brought his boot down on one of their heads, hearing a satisfying crunch. Marcus ran on, ignoring the bad aim of the Grunts. He finally ran far enough for the Grunts to give up, and slowed his pace. He neared another map, and looked down. A large arrow was point the direction he was headed toward what Marcus guessed to be the engine room. Marcus smiled; leaving the map behind, he raced down the hallway, not stopping for much except the occasional Elite. They usually received a quick blast from his shotgun and fell dead.
This crazy scheme might actually work. Marcus ran on, holding onto the detonation packs as if they were treasured artifacts from long lost civilization.
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Marcus slowed his pace down when he reached the engine room. It had double doors as well, and like everything else on this ship, was a dark shade of purple. Marcus slung the detonation packs over his back and pulled out his shotgun. He walked through the double doors ready for anything.
Inside he found a few technicians, working away and making sure everything was in order. Grunts and Engineers did most of the work; while a single Elite looked on, keeping them in check. Marcus walked up behind it, moving to its side but out of its eye sight. Marcus sighed and looked at the Elite.
“So, nice weather we’re having here right?” The Elite’s eyes grew wide, and was about to turn, when a blast from Marcus’ shotgun tore through its gut, sending the corpse flying backwards. Marcus put away his shotgun, drawing his SMGs. He opened fire on the rest of the Covenant lackeys. Most dropped like flies, but Marcus had to turn much of the fire power of the Engineers. Once they were all dead, Marcus put his weapons away and walked up to one of the main reactors.
Strapping the detonation packs to it, he put the grenades behind them, making sure they were armed but not primed. Putting the detonation sequence to 3 minutes, Marcus was about to step away when he was shoved forward, his head bashing against the wall. Resisting, he pushed away from the explosives, only to receive a barrage from plasma fire. Marcus’ shields flared, and then fell. He took a shot to the shoulder, and fell, holding onto the wound. Marcus looked up, only to stare into the eyes of one of the biggest Elites he had ever seen. It had a long scar on its face, and was grinning. It held up its overheated plasma rifles as they vented excess plasma heat. Marcus gulped, drawing one of his SMG's.
“There goes the whole idea of returning a hero.”