Project Ares Gold Edition

Chapter 21 - Traitor

Captured Airfield - Umbara

It didn't take long for the stolen CIS shuttle to touch down on the landing pad. Splitting up into teams of 3-4, almost all of Blue Team mounted AT-RTs and jumped off into the dense midnight jungle in the direction where Krell was last spotted. As for Chief, he order Blitz and Streak to take off once more in the shuttle and fly overhead. They would provide eyes from up high buut given the thick fog and constant pitch black skies, it was almost impossible to see anything without night-vision.

While the two teams on the ground looked for Krell, Chief opted to remain on the shuttle for a very obvious reason; he was the only one that stood a chance against the Jedi in a one-on-one fight. Given this reason, Chief would drop in at whoever found Krell first and assist them there. But that didn't mean Chief felt at ease waiting up in the sky while his men were down on the ground looking for an extremely dangerous target.

"Chief, this is Fives. We found him, I repeat, we found Krell." Chief's eyes darted open as he ordered Blitz and Streak to fly over there immediately. Looking out the cockpit window, Chief could make out the lights coming off the AT-RTs and blaster fire chasing for lightsaber blades further into the forest. But Krell wasn't just going to run away, looking helplessly, the Spartan saw how the Jedi cut down a small tree before throwing it in the direction of his pursuers, knocking down the AT-RTs.

Returning to the cargo hold, Chief slammed the open button as the rear of the shuttle lowered to reveal the vast darkness of the Umbaran forests. Listening to the countdown provided by Blitz, Chief leapt out of the shuttle and dived down into the newly formed combat zone. Firing his thrusters at the last instant, Chief landed about 20 metres away from his target. "Spartan! You finally decided to relieve these pathetic meat sacks of their duties!"

Replying only with silence and a barrage of blaster fire from his assault rifle, 117 watched as Krell deflected every single one of his shots and slowly advanced on Chief's position. Holstering his rifle on his back, the armoured warrior started fighting the traitorous Jedi General in hand-to-hand combat. As Krell attempted a downward strike with both of his double-bladed lightsabres, Chief caught the handles of the weapons and gripped the sabers with all of his might. Normally Krell wouldn't be nearly as strong as Chief, biologically at least, but now he was channelling the Force into every movement he did. Making him faster, stronger and tougher than before.

Looking into Krell's eyes, Chief's suspicions were confirmed when he saw the Besalisk's eyes burn with a golden tint, a clear indicator of the Dark side. Quickly crossing Krell's grip and now holding both sabres with his right hand, 117 swiftly unholstered his pistol and blasted three successive shots into Krell's lower torso.

Enraged, Krell Force pushed Chief away with his lower pair of arms. The trio of shots from the pistol definitely hurt Krell, but it wasn't even close to bringing him down. As Master Chief landed in the black soil, Krell proceeded to pick him up again with the Force and ragdoll him into multiple trees before lifting him up into the air and sending him back down into the dirt.

As warning signals flared across his HUD to indicate a loss of shields, Chief looked up to see Fives, June and Jesse engage the general from a distance with blaster fire after getting up from their wrecked AT-RTs. In that moment of distraction, Chief got up and sprinted at the traitor and slammed him through a nearby tree. As the piece of flora crumbled behind them, Chief managed to knock one of Krell's lightsabres out of his hands, sending it flying away from the pair.

Receiving multiple slashes in retaliation, Chief's beskaar-lined armour held up against the intense heat of the blade. Finding a gap in the Besalisk's attacks, Master Chief attempted to kick his opponent but Krell was waiting for him to do just that. Grabbing Chief's leg and kicking out his remaining leg from underneath him, Krell barely managed to lift the supersoldier in the air when suddenly a lightsaber pierced his back and emerged out of his chest.