Far from Silent Cartographer, a dark skinned man in Marine Gear is talking to his AI, "Make sure they capture a specimen, transmit it as part of Sergeant Johnson's current orders" "Transmitting orders," a tiny AI hovers above his hand with a list in front of him as he looks through his objectives.
He notices that one of the people he marked for tracking has changed color codes, looking at his profile Corporal Petrov was listed as KIA, and video feed showed his body on the ground, "tch, piece of shit couldn't live long enough for me to get information, his actions from yesterday show nothing in remarks to his behaviour, and that wretched AI tried to hide his info." In anger he kicks the corpse next to him, a female soldier he used for his entertainment.
He looks at his AI again, "Find the rest of his old unit, the ones we took know nothing about how he got that information. Also prepare an assault team, we're gonna take one of the covenant ships as soon as they get the specimen." Before she responds, he places her in his satchel, he doesn't trust AI, much less the one he has on him, in his line of work, many of his associates were written off because someone above cut loose ends.
He returns back to a nearby pelican were Marines wait for him, they wait silently as they keep vigilant for enemies. As he enters the cockpit, one of his men spits on the ground, his eyes full of hatred for that man, but he follows the rest of his team back inside.
...
"Cortana, did they notice?", Captain Keyes looks at a screen in an outpost close to silent cartographer. Cortana pops in on his monitor as Masterchief in the background kills the last hunter with his pistol. She gives a few orders to the Marines nearby before turning back to Keyes, "they did, seems they're not happy, and a few of the Marines are keeping tabs on us, I encrypted the channel, so they can't hear us."
"what about the Corporal," asked Keyes. "We made sure to leave his supplies with him before we left, luckily for us, the lockdown on the entrance will keep him safe for now. Although he might have some trouble before his injuries fully healed, and with any reinforcements the covenant sent, he shouldn't have to worry about. Since to mitigate the chance we have placed marines with rocket launchers nearby to intercept them. Now concerning the AI we left him, the AI should be trying to wake him at this moment. Just as well, covenant chatter shows them doubling their efforts in getting control of the ring, which means we will not make it in time before they get to the flood."
Captain Keyes looks at Masterchief, before he looks back at Cortana, "continue the plan with Masterchief to minimize the change of future events." "Yes Captain," Just as captain Keyes was about to end the transmission, he stops, "cortana...do what you can to lower the casualties, and prepare our forces to take one of their ships before the flood can get to it without alerting our passengers."
"...Understood"
....
In a thick firefight, marines discharge plasma pistols taking out covenant shields , as the others quickly take out the jackals, and elites. A silver elite goes mad, and takes out his energy sword when he's pelted by plasma, and bullet fire. "Damn covenant keep coming at us, but we sure as hell showed them!" Since the time they've carried those plasma pistols, killing the covenant has become easier, and less of them have died in battle. One of the Marines has even decided to dual wield a needler to great affect against elites in the back. While those that dodge, and hide behind cover, are killed when surrounded by grenades as they have taken a habit of pilfering plasma grenades. The Masterchief has been quick in his actions as well, as he quickly secured the security substation, while a single marine climbs up a rock to get the fuel rod cannons from the dead grunts.
Ever since he saw that corporal take advantage of the covenant weapons, he's wondered why none of them had done so, the shields have been a constant issue, but easy to mitigate with the covenants own weapons. regardless he's taken it upon himself to use their weapons against them, and the fuel rod cannon will be a great addition, well at least till he runs out ammo...
....
On the ship known as truth, and reconciliation, an elite sees reports on his terminal, their ship is undergoing repairs, and the humans had escaped from their cells the day before. He feels disgusted that they have stepped upon their ship, and worse so that their feet desecrated the holy land. Regardless, for now they must ready themselves for the next battle, then they can purge the humans, but as he was thinking this, he noticed something odd. The Humans have begun burning the bodies in areas that they have taken over, it's not consistent though, as they show prioritization in taking control of the areas that they had occupied first before burning instead of looking for the control room, but this series of acts alone confuses him. He saw no reason for action like this in their previous encounters, so why now? What could the Humans be doing? What are their Motives?
Whatever their actions are, he needs more information, he calls his subordinates, and orders them to investigate. They had already desecrated the holy land with their presence, so whatever their plan, it must be stopped. Their endeavours are of great importance, the humans must not sully the holy land further. After all, they're so close to their goal for the great journey. Still it bugs him, just in case, he will report this to the commander.
....
"Hey, wake up, you don't have much time!"
"hmm"
Wake Up!!