Flesh Wounds

Chapter 17.9 "Beautiful Sacrifice"

Maxx Pov

"I would assume you had an easier time than our team," I radioed to Kate and stepped amongst the dead.

Kate responded over our comms, "Besides the threat of legs breaking I'd say we had the easier part, yes."

"We're getting in position soon, make sure you're ready to assist us," I had told Kate then put the shotgun on my pack, I had one last full mag for it.

"We are ready to breach from the side, you cause the initial distraction and we'll follow up with a surprise attack," Kate played it out with her words.

"Sounds like this plan will go well. But it's always easier said than done," I switched off the comms, best to get ready now. "How are the charges doing?" I asked the demolition team of their progress.

"Well," A gruff voice said as he pulled a few wires around between the different bombs, "The thermite is hot and ready. This door won't stand a chance, especially with this much explosive on 'er."

"This should be a real fight now. No whimps are going to be behind this door," I told my battle hardened team of ODST, "Only Zealots and Shipmasters." I was ready to use my super weapon. "Lite the fuses," I said, even if the bombs were timed. I reached on to my pack and unholstered the compact weapon, flipping a switch, it fell out and assembled itself in my own grasp, spinning and heating up. 

The charges blast and the door bends inwards from pressure and makes an entrance. With my team behind me I stride forward, unleashing a torrent of red lasers from the Spartan Minigun. The lasers strike different elites, making their shields stutter and deplete.

Suddenly as soon as plasma fires in my direction so does bullets in the opposite. The conflict begins and then another small explosion happens off in the back of the room: our flank. I continue the rapid assault as I can feel my grip getting hotter, the lasers are overheating the gun completely; the entire weapon is starting to glow.

The squad from behind runs up and starts the close range shotgun assault, the heavy weapons finishing off unshielded Sangheili and surrounding them in the middle of the command center, their panels all flashing red with alert and being painted blue with their blood. 

The minigun slows firing as I close distance to those left in the middle, taking out as many little ODSTs they can. The heat is becoming unbearable as I stop firing and thrust forward towards a shipmaster. The red-orange barrel of the weapon strikes them in the unprotected chest and a loud sizzle becomes apparent as this happens. The other elites immediately respond to protect their fellow warrior; shoving me back and shooting my shield with plasma.

"Maxx!" I hear Kate yell across the room as they gun me down and I lift up my arms to defend, but I feel no burn and no warning of damage. 

I look up and realize they are reveling back and taking worried shots at ODSTs trying to approach them. I look down at my arms, fully red shield. Failsafe had redirected the heat to surround my body as a second shield. The radiation was magnetized towards my core. 

Taking no longer to contemplate on the subject: I rush the sword drawing zealots and grip onto my shotgun with one full mag left. A swordsman swings at me, I duck and slide; sending a cluster of shrapnel up their flank and recovering on the other side of their stance.

"Big man is mad now!" One of the uninjured ODSTs shouts into the conflict as he machine guns down the elite I had incapacitated. The elite fell forward and crashed as the other two remaining ran at me with swords of white blades.

I kick a corpse back and hip my shotgun, firing into a close block with the sword. The other elite pushes past the blocker and comes to lunge at my person. I evade only enough to have it scrape past my chest, weakening the shield I have. But so does a shotgun at point blank; another blast and the damage hits them in the side. The collapse of their body almost tripping my footing. As I continue sliding to the side. 

I pull the slide back and fire my second to last shot. The elite blocks most of the shrapnel again, as his shields are barely scratched. The elite, shooken up, looks around at the surrounding enemy forces. All the ODSTs are watching us while Kate and 13 are frustrating over a command console.

The elite meets my gaze and I meet his. I choke my shotgun again and the shell falls out, making an empty sound as it tinks to the ground. I charge the elite and they respond by raising their weapon and pushing forwards as well.

I lower my stance and swing my leg in a sweeping motion, taking the warrior off balance and lifting him over top me. I spin on the dip and stay bound in a crouch; I fire the shell.

The elite stays down on the cold metal, the sword's power falls and the weapon sheathes itself into the handle.

Kate Pov

A good operation halfway complete, the last of the deck is cleared and the controls are at our feet. "We are halfway done now, if we maintain our surprise, we will have-"

"Yeah, lady! That ain't happening!" A trooper shouts, cutting me off.

Another ODST runs up to the window point their ass off at the escaping duo banshees, "Activate the weapons or something! Take them out!"

I rush over and 13 comes out and takes hold of the controls. 

"No, different plan," Maxx said and came to my side before 13 did anything, "You'll tell them quicker using actual weaponry." 

I step back, taking 13 with me, "What do you have in mind?"

Maxx reaches behind him and unlocks his mag-pack before handing it to me, "I'll need you all to get back to the pelicans. I will handle this alone so evac off this ship now," He said much calmer than I would expect of him. 

The soldiers comply instantly though, not wanting to stay any longer, they run back yelling orders for everyone to grab the injured and get out. "What are you and your A.I.s planning?"

Maxx put his hand over the connection pylon, a red and yellow color flash into the blue abyss. "Failsafe, find the furthest most left pylon and get ready to reroute towards there. Error, take hold of navigation, and once I reach the pylon I need you both to unlatch further most left scaffolding." He turned to me, "That as good of an explanation? Get to the pelican and be ready to get me off this before I run out of breathable O2."

"If this was a good plan I'd agree with you but I know you'll bring this whole thing down on both of us," I step back and turn, I can see 13 appear, a light blue figure of me, "I'll need you all three later for a promotion after this, now hurry Kate, let's move."

I run, fast, only hearing the sound of deaf metallic footsteps and my concentrated breath. "Error has already started directing the atmosphere of the ship somewhere else, I recommend hurrying," I would make an ungrateful thanks remark but as I am running my own thoughts of sarcasm should be enough to make her aware. 

I jump over a corpse of an elite zealot and keep pushing. I round the corner to the hanger, the ships already being loaded with some weaponry, best to not let it all go to waste while there's time. I gladly get on board the pelican I entered in, rather be in this than go down with the whole ship. "I recommend we pull out now, we'll pick up Maxx quite soon," I ordered them and sat up front with the pilot of the ship. "Shut the doors, activate the burners, and fly."