Location: New Mombasa, Kilindini Underpass
Date: October 20, 2552
Time: 08:10
The chaos of battle never really fades; it just shifts, morphs into new, terrifying shapes. After escaping the gravity lift and routing the Covenant in the streets, I thought the worst might be over, but I should've known better. The streets of New Mombasa were filled with the sounds of war: Marines shouting orders, plasma and bullets crackling in the air, and the roar of Banshees streaking overhead.
We were about to face something bigger than any of us anticipated.
"Chief, we're getting reports of a Scarab heading our way," Cortana said, her voice clipped with urgency.
I could see the towering silhouette of the Scarab in the distance, its hulking frame casting a shadow over the burning cityscape. The Covenant war machine was a walking fortress—massive, heavily armored, and armed to the teeth. I'd taken down one of these before, but it had never been easy. This wasn't going to be a simple fight.
"We can't let it reach the civilian sectors," I said, already moving toward the Marine rally point at the underpass. "What do we have for heavy ordnance?"
"Working on it," Cortana replied. "But right now, all we've got is a Scorpion Tank. I suggest you make good use of it."
I pushed through the crowded underpass, where a small group of Marines had set up a makeshift defense line. Some of them looked battered, their armor scorched from plasma burns, but they were still standing. One of the Marines—Corporal Palmer—nodded grimly as I approached, shotgun in hand.
"Chief, it's good to see you," she said. "The Scarab's heading straight for us, and we're running low on everything. It blew right through the first line of defense. Rockets, 50-cal—nothing slowed it down."
"We'll need to hit it from the inside," I said, scanning the horizon for incoming reinforcements. "Where's the tank?"
As if on cue, a Pelican roared overhead, dropping a Scorpion onto the street with a heavy thud. Sergeant Johnson emerged from the transport, grinning as he slapped the tank's side.
"Chief, you take the wheel," he said, his grin fading as his eyes tracked the approaching Scarab. "We've got one shot at this. I'll handle the ground support, you take that thing down."
"Copy that," I replied, moving toward the tank.
The Marines scrambled into position as I climbed into the Scorpion's driver seat, feeling the familiar hum of the engine coming to life beneath me. The heavy treads rolled forward, crushing debris under the weight of sixty-six tons of pure destruction. Ahead, the Scarab's glowing plasma cannon loomed, firing sporadic bursts that melted buildings and left craters in the streets.
"Chief," Cortana cut in, "more Covenant incoming. Ghosts and Wraiths inbound on your position."
I adjusted my grip on the controls and aimed the Scorpion's turret toward the bridge ahead, where I could see the Covenant forces gathering. Ghosts skittered across the wreckage-strewn street, their plasma fire lighting up the underpass as they closed in. Farther back, two Wraiths lumbered into view, their massive cannons swiveling to track our movement.
"Incoming!" I shouted to the Marines, squeezing the trigger. The Scorpion's cannon boomed, and a shell flew toward the first Ghost, hitting it square in the side. The craft exploded in a brilliant flash of blue fire, sending its pilot tumbling through the air.
I didn't stop to watch. The other Ghosts were already on us, weaving through the wreckage, their plasma fire peppering the Scorpion's hull. I swiveled the turret and fired again, taking out another Ghost as its pilot tried to flank us. A third Ghost rushed in, and one of the Marines fired a rocket, sending it careening into a burning Warthog, which exploded on impact.
"Focus on the Wraiths!" I barked, as the first of the Wraiths fired a glowing plasma mortar toward us. I jerked the controls, narrowly avoiding the blast as it landed behind us, shaking the ground.
The second Wraith's cannon swiveled toward us, but I was faster. The Scorpion's cannon roared again, and the shell slammed into the Wraith's front armor, cracking the energy shielding around it. The Marines cheered as the Wraith staggered backward, but it wasn't done yet.
I lined up another shot, squeezing the trigger. The shell hit the Wraith dead-on, this time penetrating its hull. The massive Covenant tank exploded, its blue fireball lighting up the street.
"One down," I muttered, steering the Scorpion toward the remaining Wraith.
The second Wraith fired again, and this time the plasma blast hit its mark. The Scorpion shook violently, alarms blaring in my helmet as the impact knocked out some of our forward armor plating. I gritted my teeth and pushed forward, ignoring the damage warnings flashing on my HUD.
"Chief, we can't take too many more hits like that!" Cortana warned.
I fired the Scorpion's cannon again, and the Wraith's shields flickered as the shell struck its side. It fired another plasma blast, but this time it missed, its aim thrown off by the damage it had sustained. I didn't wait for it to recover—another round from the Scorpion's cannon tore through the Wraith's armor, and it exploded in a cloud of purple flame.
The immediate threat was gone, but I knew the real fight was just beginning.
"Chief, the Scarab is closing in on your position," Cortana said. "You'll need to board it and disable its power core."
I looked up, and there it was—the Scarab, looming over the city like a metal colossus. Its legs slammed into the streets as it advanced, crushing vehicles and debris beneath its weight. Covenant troops swarmed around it, setting up defensive positions as the behemoth moved through the city.
"We need to take that thing down before it reaches the civilian sectors!" I shouted, pushing the Scorpion forward toward the towering Scarab.
"Keep moving! We've got your back!" Johnson's voice crackled over the comms as the Marines scrambled to keep up.
The Scarab's plasma cannon fired, and the ground shook as it obliterated a nearby building. I knew we didn't have much time. The longer we let it rampage, the more destruction it would cause.
"Chief, I'm detecting a weak point in the Scarab's power core," Cortana said. "You'll need to get inside and destroy it from the inside out."
I pushed the Scorpion forward, dodging plasma fire as I closed the distance between us and the Scarab. The towering machine continued its advance, but I could see an opportunity—a series of walkways above the street led directly to its upper deck.
"This is it," I said, abandoning the Scorpion as I made my way toward the catwalks. The Marines followed close behind, providing cover as we pushed toward the Scarab.
I sprinted across the catwalk, the metal structure shaking as the Scarab's massive legs stomped beneath us. Plasma fire crackled overhead, but I didn't stop. I reached the end of the catwalk and leaped onto the Scarab's upper deck, landing with a heavy thud.
Covenant troops were waiting—Grunts and Elites, their weapons already aimed at me. I didn't give them a chance to fire. My rifle barked, cutting down two of the Grunts before they could react. The Elites charged, but I was faster, ducking beneath a plasma sword and retaliating with a burst of rifle fire.
One of the Elites went down, but the other was still coming. It swung its sword in a wide arc, and I barely had time to block with the butt of my rifle. The impact jarred my arm, but I held firm, countering with a punch to the Elite's chest. Its shields flickered, and I followed up with a quick burst from my rifle, dropping it.
"Chief, the power core is inside!" Cortana urged.
I moved down the ramp into the Scarab's interior, where more Covenant troops waited. The heat from the power core was almost overwhelming, but I pushed forward, taking out the Grunts and Elites guarding the core.
Finally, I reached the core itself—a massive, glowing structure pulsing with energy. I didn't hesitate. I armed a grenade and tossed it into the core, turning and sprinting back up the ramp as the countdown ticked in my HUD.
"Get clear!" Cortana shouted.
I dove off the Scarab just as the grenade detonated. The explosion ripped through the Scarab's interior, and the massive machine shuddered as it collapsed, its legs giving out beneath it.
I hit the ground hard, rolling to my feet as the Scarab crumbled behind me in a fiery wreck. The remaining Covenant forces scattered, retreating as their war machine fell apart.
"That's right, you mothers! Run!" Johnson's voice boomed over the comms as he and the remaining Marines regrouped.