Zeta Halo: Josh B-095
The UNSC Black Serenity made landfall on Installation 07 and unloaded its soldiers unto the white sands. The ship left after dropping off Infinite Team on the beach.
Marines gasped at the beautiful landscape, mesmerized by the tall cliffs and perfect water. It all seemed too faultless to be real.
As the soldiers looked around them, a Spartan III pushed his wayto the front. His name was Josh B-095. Josh’s armour was white and blue, and covered in dents and scratches. His battle-worn armor matched the beachfront.
“Move it soldiers, we have to assist the forces on this ring, we have to stop the covenant,” he said loudly to disperse the murmuring from the small crowd. The soldiers of Infinite Team marched down the water’s edge to meet Team Roma.
As they made their way to the allies up ahead, a Phantom flew up behind them and gunned down the soldiers in the back. Josh turned back and shot at the gun, taking it out and disabling the ship.
Jackals and Grunts hopped down and launched plasma at Infinite Team.
“WHADDA WE DO, SIR?” Shouted a marine. Josh answered as he dragged a wounded soldier,” we fight.” The marines ducked behind rocks and shot round after round at the Covenant Infantry.
Within minutes, the alien fools were downed and retreating. The remaining soldiers jogged the next 2 kilometers to Team Roma’s position.
Josh walked up to Sylas R-357 and apologized for the lack of soldiers. “We were pinned down by infantry, we lost some.” Sylas removed his helmet before speaking,”well at least you brought soldiers.”
Josh and Sylas sprinted through a large cavern and ducked behind a semi-wall. The marines walked forward, knowing that the space leading up to the Spartans was safe. “NOOOO- Arhgghhh,”
A marine shouted as a Zealot Elite stabbed her with an energy blade.
“Shhhhh,” Sylas whispered to the marines on the opposite side of the cave. Josh looked towards the Elite and covered Sylas’ mouth. The Elite was shot in the back and fell, before a Banished stepped forth. “Humans of Earth, show yourselves. Zeta Halo belongs to us.” Josh crept up over the semi-wall and ducked behind the Brute, pulling out a knife before going in for the kill.
The 9 foot beast yelled and fell. It’s screams alerted the others, and soon Roma and Infinite were locked in battle with The Banished. Of the 154 soldiers in the teams combined, only 42 would survive the encounter. “Slater, Quinn, move up and take out the one with the hammer! McHewins, fall back!” Sylas shouted orders at the marines in his vicinity.
Clarke and Barrete moved up and were killed almost instantly. Gallagher went flying across the cavern after being hit with a gravity hammer. Quinn was shot by a spiker-bearing Brute as she tried to kill the chieftain. Josh ran up, grabbed the energy blade that had been lying on the ground, and charged. He sliced open the neck of the chieftain, and began slaughtering the nearby Brutes. With the help of Slater, Sylas, and the other 39 soldiers, the rest of the brutes were killed. The troops walked slowly through the rest of the cavern, stunned and dazed. “I didn’t think we were gonna make it, Lieutenant,” Slater said to Josh.
Josh stayed silent.
They made it out of the cavern and onto the opposite side of the cliffs. “There it is, Sarge,” Josh whispered to Sylas,”there’s the base.” The two of them stared at the sword-shaped base in astonishment, as it was unlike anything they’d seen. The super-soldiers had only ever been sent into combat on planets, but never had they ever been on a Halo Ring. Josh now took notice of how the ring curved up and around in the sky. The land before them was charming and pleasant. It was elegant.
“Let’s get moving then, shall we?” Sylas replied to Josh after the long pause. The Lieutenant motioned his troops forward, and Josh remained as he watched the brave soldiers march to the base.
Josh jogged down the hill, and went to the river at the base of the construct.
Roma Team was approaching Zeta Base, when banshees flew up from behind the building and flew around, shooting everything that moved. Soldiers ducked behind cover, and Sylas was lying on the ground in some brush. Josh ran now, he ran and tried to save them, but it was too late. Most of them had died. He ran to Sylas, only to find that he was dead rather than hiding. Josh grabbed the orange and black helmet from off his friend’s head. “Holy-“ Josh started. He was speechless. The last 7 marines grouped around Josh. “Grab some grenades and take out the banshees. We aren’t going back, we’re in too deep.”
After a couple minutes, the banshees were taken out. Two Pelicans flew in and each dropped 4-seat Warthogs. The 7 marines, and Josh, hopped in and drove up the path to the entrance. “This is Josh B-095, requesting evac at these coordinates, please arrive around 2 hours from now. Over.” One of the Pelican pilots responded, accepting the request.
Some Elites dropped in in pods and started shooting at the Warthogs. The Warthog in the back erupted in flames before flying off the cliffs edge and exploding. The marine sitting in the passenger seat of the remaining Warthog was shot and killed. Josh swerved and sent the vehicle flying off the cliff. He fell out of the car, went into armor-lockup, and plummeted to the ground. He watched as his last 2 marines died, before hitting the dirt below.
A pelican arrived and went searching for survivors. They found Josh laying on the ground, looking around at the sky. The sun was setting over his unmoving body, and all he could see was the Pelican land, and a team of medics carrying him into the back. He was sent to Earth, and watched as the covenant ships left The Ring to follow him.