Location: Surface of Halo
Time: 05:15 AM
The landscape stretched out before us, a vast and alien expanse of rolling green hills, towering mountains, and shimmering alien structures in the distance. The sky above curved with the impossible geometry of the ring, casting a surreal, almost ethereal glow over the terrain. As beautiful as it was, I knew this was a deadly place. There was no room for awe—only survival.
"We need to move," I said, scanning the horizon for any sign of movement. The air was heavy with tension, the silence a stark contrast to the chaos that had brought us here. "No telling how long we have before the Covenant tracks us down."
Cortana's voice crackled through my helmet, calm yet urgent. "Chief, I'm picking up several UNSC lifeboat signatures nearby. Some survivors have likely made it through the crash. We need to make contact and consolidate our forces."
I gave a curt nod. "That's the plan—find survivors, regroup, and get ready for the Covenant. They'll be here soon."
I turned to the marines around me, their faces a mix of determination and fear. The shock of where we were hadn't worn off, but they knew what was coming. They knew the Covenant would be hunting us, and if we weren't ready, we wouldn't stand a chance.
"Stay sharp. The Covenant won't waste time," I ordered, and the marines fell into formation, moving with me as we began our trek through the grassy fields.
As we moved, my mind couldn't stop racing. Everything about this place felt familiar, but now, it was real. I knew the terrain in broad strokes from memories of another life, but this was different. The stakes were higher. The fear was palpable. There was no reset button, no second chance if we failed. And this world—this weapon—was filled with dangers beyond what any of these marines could comprehend.
We moved quickly, staying low, but every step brought with it the feeling of being watched. The ring's horizon curved upward impossibly, reminding me that we were on a structure, not a natural planet. And somewhere out there, the Covenant were regrouping, planning their next strike.
Location: Valley of Lifeboat Alpha Crash Site
Time: 05:22 AM
We spotted the first crash site just over the next ridge—a column of thick, black smoke rising into the sky, contrasting sharply with the bright blue overhead. As we crested the hill, the wreckage came into view, scattered across the valley. The sight of survivors brought a wave of relief, but it was short-lived. We were far from safe.
A familiar face greeted me—a sight for sore eyes. Sergeant Major Avery Johnson, one of the toughest marines I'd ever met, stood among the survivors. His face was smeared with dirt, but his expression was as unyielding as ever.
"Chief! You're a sight for sore eyes," Johnson said, his voice a mix of relief and urgency. "We thought we were the only ones left."
"Glad you're still in one piece, Johnson," I replied, giving him a quick once-over. "Any sign of Covenant forces?"
Johnson shook his head, his eyes scanning the distant hills. "Not yet, but this place is too quiet. It won't last."
The marines with Johnson were battered but determined. They were holding it together for now, but the fear was there, just beneath the surface. The eerie silence of the ring wasn't helping.
"Cortana, any Covenant activity on sensors?" I asked, gripping the assault rifle slung over my shoulder.
"Nothing immediate, Chief, but I'm detecting several Covenant dropships heading our way. We need to secure the crash site and prepare for incoming hostiles," Cortana warned.
I turned to Johnson. "We need to hold this position until we can get the wounded out. Set up defensive perimeters. The Covenant will be here soon."
Johnson's face hardened, and he began barking orders to the marines. They moved quickly, setting up makeshift barricades and distributing the scant ammunition they had. The tension was palpable, but there was no time for second thoughts. We had to be ready.
Location: Valley, Lifeboat Bravo Crash Site
Time: 05:37 AM
We barely finished reinforcing our position when the unmistakable hum of Covenant dropships filled the air. I could see them in the distance, their sleek, purple hulls shimmering as they descended toward the valley, casting ominous shadows over the land.
"Here they come!" a marine shouted, raising his rifle toward the approaching dropships.
I raised my assault rifle, lining up my sights on the advancing Covenant forces. The dropships hovered for a moment, then released their deadly cargo—swarms of Grunts, Jackals, and two towering Elites. They hit the ground in a coordinated strike, weapons raised and ready to fire.
"Hold your fire until they're closer!" I ordered, the tension in the air thick enough to cut with a knife.
Time seemed to slow as the Covenant forces advanced, their footsteps eerily synchronized. My finger rested lightly on the trigger, waiting for the perfect moment. Then, when they were close enough, I squeezed.
"Engage!" I shouted, and the marines opened fire in unison.
Bullets ripped through the air, tearing into the Grunts at the front of the formation. The ground was quickly littered with their small, lifeless bodies, blue blood staining the grass. The Jackals followed behind, their energy shields flickering under the barrage of bullets. But the real challenge was the Elites. Their shields absorbed most of the fire, and they pressed forward, unfazed by the carnage around them.
I surged ahead, ducking under a plasma bolt before closing the gap with one of the Elites. Its plasma rifle flared as it fired, but I was already moving, slamming the butt of my rifle into its midsection. The impact sent it staggering, giving me just enough time to unload a burst of fire into its exposed side, dropping it to the ground.
"Push forward!" I barked, leading the charge as we pressed the attack.
The marines followed, advancing with me as we cut through the remaining Covenant forces. The battle was fierce, but we had the momentum, and within minutes, the valley was littered with the bodies of our enemies.
As the final Elite fell, I took a deep breath, scanning the horizon for any sign of reinforcements. The valley was quiet once more, but I knew the Covenant wouldn't give up that easily.
"We can't stay here," I said, turning to Johnson. "There's another crash site to the north. We need to regroup with any survivors and find a defensible position. The Covenant will send more soon."
Johnson wiped the sweat from his brow, nodding in agreement. "Roger that, Chief. We'll hold out here if we have to, but we need to move the wounded first."
I glanced at the marines, noting the exhaustion on their faces. We couldn't afford to rest. Not yet.
"Let's move," I said, my voice firm. The battle was far from over.
Location: Hillside, Lifeboat Charlie Crash Site
Time: 05:50 AM
The second crash site was a mess. The lifeboat had hit a rocky outcrop, its hull ripped open like a tin can. Black smoke billowed from the wreckage, and the stench of burning metal filled the air. Scattered bodies of marines lay on the hillside, some still clutching their weapons in death.
But there were survivors.
"Cortana, report," I said, my eyes narrowing as I surveyed the scene.
"Survivors, Chief. But they're under heavy fire from Covenant forces," she replied, her tone tense. "We need to assist them before they're overrun."
I didn't waste a second. "Johnson, with me. The rest of you, form a perimeter around the wounded."
We moved in quickly, flanking the Covenant forces that were entrenched around the crash site. Plasma fire lit up the hillside as we engaged, pushing through the enemy lines with precision. The Elites were tougher, fighting with a ferocity I hadn't seen in a long time, but they couldn't hold against our combined assault.
We cleared the area within minutes, but the cost had been high. The surviving marines were battered and bloodied, their faces etched with exhaustion and fear. One of them, his arm in a makeshift sling, looked at me with wide eyes.
"Chief… we thought we were done for," he said, his voice weak.
"Not yet," I replied, helping him to his feet. "But we need to move. The Covenant will be back, and we can't hold this position."
Johnson stepped up beside me, nodding in agreement. "Chief's right. We need to find somewhere defensible, and fast."
I glanced at the horizon, knowing that more Covenant dropships would be on their way soon. We had to move quickly, or we wouldn't survive the next assault.
"We regroup," I said, my voice steady but filled with urgency. "We find high ground, set up defenses, and hold until help arrives—or until we can find a way off this ring."
The marines gave a firm nod, their faces resolute despite the fear that lingered in their eyes.
"Let's get moving," I ordered, leading the way as we moved deeper into the alien landscape, ready for whatever came next.
The ring was beautiful, yes, but it was also a battlefield. And right now, it was trying to kill us.