Infection: The Transmission

The last thing I remember was a tremendous explosion. We had just fought off a wave of Brutes, and the only enemies that remained were a sniper Jackal, a Brute, and his rocket launcher. The Jackal caught scent of my squadmate Esmu ‘Majasee and fired his particle beam rifle and missed. Peeking behind the destroyed Wraith that was my cover, I spotted the Jackal, focused intently on finding ‘Majasee, who was hiding behind a boulder to my right. I aimed at his right eye, and fired. Due to the imperfect accuracy of the weapon, I didn’t hit his eye, but his lifeless body still dropped off the cliff and fell down the waterfall on the cliff face. Other than the fact that I shot and killed one of the Brute’s subordinates, my white and black armor was highly visible. He was shot in the groin and fell, screaming, thanks to Ahmu ‘Rejamee, but the primitive yet deadly explosive had already left the barrel of the weapon the Brute was holding.

And that’s when it happened. I jumped out of the way but didn’t get far before the rocket impacted the Wraith and sent me flying.

“Excellency? Excellency, wake up!”

I opened my eyes. Both Esmu and Ahmu were hovering over me.

"What is it, Ahmu? Are you two well?”

“We are fine. How are you feeling?”

I got up, rubbed my neck, which was sore, and looked around. It was still early evening, so I wasn’t out of consciousness for long. Two destroyed Wraiths and a few pods were in the valley below, where I once was, and the cliff with the waterfall running down in was about 40 yards ahead of me. I must have landed on the cliff behind me because beneath my feet were Forerunner patterns and behind me were alcoves lined with weapons and ammunition.

I counted the bodies: twenty-five Elites, twenty-two Grunts, thirty Jackals, and forty-three Brutes. Not ba--

“Excellency?”

“What?!?”

“I apologize, master, but are you hurt at all?”

“No, ‘Majasee, I am fin--”

Suddenly, ‘Majasee activated his communicator. “Help! We are under attack! We request immediate assistance from any and all nearby Elite parties at the Brute encampment! The gaze has left us!” Indicating that the transmission was urgent.

‘Rejamee and I just stood there, mouths agape. I was about to yell at him for his insolence, but instead I just walked up to him and slapped him so hard that I felt the static pulse of his shields.

“Why did you send that transmission? That may have been the last wave!” shouted ‘Rejamee.

What if it wasn’t? We can’t hold out here, just the three of us, forever!”

“Do not talk to me that way! I am your superior…”

I wasn’t listening to them bicker. My mind was on other, more important, matters. I didn’t think anyone would recognize the transmission as legitimate anyway.

I knew each of  the fallen Elites by name, and one was missing.

“Something on your mind, Tawe?”

I turned around. “Ewya? There you are! Where have you been?”

"Searching for survivors, Elite or Brute. Found nothing. I came back when I heard ‘Majasee record that distress signal.”

I heard ‘Majasee apologize to ‘Rejamee, and they stopped arguing. We just stood around for a moment, until ‘Rejamee broke the silence. “Why haven’t we moved on yet? It seems like we have been here since the Arbiter found the Oracle!”

“We were given orders to defend this encampment, so other forces could use it as a fallback point, remember? It is a lowly job for the likes of Sangheili, but our warriors are dwindling,” I responded, “but I do agree, we have explored every inch of this encampment.”

I later learned that I was wrong. Very wrong.

I noticed that Ewya was staring into the distance, over the waterfall. “What is the matter?” I asked.

“I hear something. It may be a Ghost.”

“Everyone, listen!” I whispered.

Then I heard it too. The low hum of the Ghost’s boosted gravity propulsion drive. I couldn’t tell how many, though. “Any estimates?” I asked.

“More than zero, less than fifty,” ‘Rejamee said jokingly.

“However many there are, we shall give them a warm welcome, then,” I replied.

“Right.” Everyone else responded simultaneously.

Esmu switched to his fuel rod gun, while Ewya switched to his beam rifle and engaged his active camouflage. Ahmu grabbed two plasma rifles, while I pulled out a Brute shot and aimed slightly above the waterfall. The Ghost was getting louder, louder, louder…

I saw the front of it. The reconnaissance vehicle was probably alone.

“FIRE!”