Composite Armour

"I have no clue in hell who Cortez is, but I'll probably break his legs if I see him. Anton, I need you to send the admiral down here ASAP. Also I need an errand boy, find one for me. I'll give him a sweet or something."

Murphy looked up at the commotion going by. "Would someone like to explain why an ODST just got dragged off screaming in pain, or is it just a ritual around here? Anton?" He wiped the motor oil from the visor and went back to welding. The mechanics did the same. "Heh, I'd like to see them take this!"

UNSC Paladin X-922 Basic design: Sleek shape, dagger like design. Hull length: 2.88Km Height: 204m Weapons: 406 88mm "Avenger" Light turrets, 46 UV "Icarus" Laser Heavy ship turrets, 800 37mm "Sentry" Point defense turrets, 2 1.5m "Intervention" Super heavy turrets, Various on-board Craft, Advanced Cyber warfare systems. Armour: 8m of Advanced Cermamic plating, Sloped and scaled armour design, Adaptive armour system proveide EMP and Termal resistance, Light shielding. Crew N.o: 2800 FDP, 1500 Pilot and crewmen, 70 Bridge crew, 2000 SBP, 3000 Marines, 50 Spartan IVs. Vehicles: 200 "Spectre" Advanced Interceptors, 400 Super Longsword F/B, 200 Boarding Pelicans, 250 Claymore Bombers, 400 Planetary based "Lance" F/B, 40 "Cobra" Recon craft, 5 "Apocolypse" Prototype Aircraft. Previous Deployment: Completed in 2556, Served mainly in a peace-keeping role, engaged and destroyed 2 Storm Assualt Carriers Above a forerunner mining facility. SPARTAN: S-IV 4023 Preffered weapon(s): Emperor Heavy tank, Artillery. Armour: ODST Variant all armound, Up armoured from base model. Colour: ACU Camoflauge Visor: Silver Emblem: Scorpion Previous Deployment: 2nd Battle for Requim, various outer colonies.

"Deathstrike" Murphy, Charlie base's motor pool -08:05 "Alright girls, while we're waiting for the bossman to come down here, I've got a little project for you." The assembled team of mechanincs listened closely as a detailed tank design was passed around for every one of them. There was a look of joy on some of their faces, while the rest had the usual "more work" look. "Now since the UNSC is oh so good at giving us what we need, we're going to have to machine all the parts here. Don't worry about the hulls, suspension or armour, I'll get it for us." Some of the crowd scoffed at the word us, which typically mean't "them". The look turned to wonder as Murphy began to start welding parts away from his damaged scorpion tank. "Does the UNSC pay you to just stand around?" The mechanics quickly set to work on the new project.

"Admiral, this is Murphy. When you're free, I need to see you in the garage."

It was a huge sign of relief for Murphy when friendly forces were finally seen through the armoured hull. The now battered scorpion tank rolled up into Charlie base and came to a halt. The hatch popped open and Murphy appeared to the crowd of confused marines and troopers. "You should have seen the look on those freaks faces!"

Spartan IIs were active for nearly 30 years. Besides, there's only one left within the UNSC. It's time to let him retire.

"Deathstrike" Murphy, Requiem surface. Time unknown. Murphy awoke to find himself lying on the floor. He had no idea what happened or how long he was out. He readied his gear and stood up. "Any UNSC forces respond and give me an update, over. Damn, no contact, I guess I'm on my own again." He began to walk away from...whever he was. It was over a good hour of walking before he came across anything that wasn't rocks. It was a lone scorpion tank, sitting quietly out of action beside a large boulder. He walked towards it and inspected it. It was almost pristine. No hull damage, all treads intact, turret fully functional, full ammo and full fuel. "Man, I bet some jockey got his *** handed to him for abandoning this!" He paused at the thought. That "jockey" might not have even made it back to base. He made his way to the hatch and noticed it was still sealed. He ripped it off and jumped back. The infected half human monster lunged at him. It was only brought down when the chest was ripped to shreds by bullets. "What the **** was that?! There better be someone alive or I swear I'm nuking this rock." He made his way into the tank and removed anything "infected". Sitting behind the controls of a Scorpion, he became slightly nostalgic. All those books he read and all those shows he watched as a kid on tank warfare. Now he was sitting in a metal beast. "Ha! The radio still works, lets get some proper driving music!" The tank rumbled off, leaving a trail in its wake...

The wraith is slow and presents a large target for the Sorpion's main gun. It's a piece of mobile artillery trying to take on a Heavy tank, it's not gonna win. The wraith is used for taking out fixed enemy poistions, the scorpion is for taking out enemy armour, like the wraith.

"When the going gets tough, the Spartans get going. Since you have the AI, our highest priority is the senior crew members. Last time I saw him, the admiral was alive and kicking. We'll also need a source of food, there's was no time to grab rations."

Murphy lay still briefly after the crash, he had no idea where he was. He was buried beneath a pile of wreckage and could not move much. He began to slowly push the pieces away from him, one by one. He suddenly stopped. Two voices came calling out, but he could not make sense of it. "Hey, get this scrap off of me!" He could hear foot steps and the scraping of metal. Eventually he could see light as more of the wreckage was removed. After the final piece, he saw an 8 foot elite looking down at him, Plasma rifle drawn. What the elite saw startled him. Murphy, pushed the body aside. He could the see the terrified jackals and grunts running away from the site. He made a search, there was no trace of any other survivors. "Anyone on this channel? Crap, looks like I'm on my own again." An automated recording came through from his missing comrades, depicting the moments immediately after the crash. "Well, they're not dead, that's a start. I just hope they can stand a covenant interrogation." He erased the original beacon message and made a new one. It gave detailed information of the status of the infinity and orders to destroy it.

Murphy burst into the hanger, trying to clear a path to the vampire. They made their way to the vampire and climbed in. "Get us out of here and follow this spirit! I'll man the heavy turret."

"Aw hell! There's our old friend. Run, just go!" They sprinted away as fast as they could, the elites were chasing. "We need to get to anything space worthy, get to the hanger!"

"Anton, that's going to be a hell of job. Where are you and what's you're status? I thought the marines had you?" He looked over towards the trooper and looked around the armoury. Without warning, he readied his weapon and opened fire. A few moments after, an elite uncloaked and fell dead. "We need to move now!" He began to head towards the bowels of the ship again. "Look, our priority is recovery of the AI, should that fall into enemy hands, we'll have to destroy the Infinity. An explosion beside the reactors shielding should do it. It's good you have grenades."

"Good idea. There should be a bay nearby, past the armoury. I suggest we pay a visit there and do some shopping. Whenever you're ready, lets get moving. Don't worry about the shotgun either, it happens to everybody."

"We'll never make it out in this thing. We'll get swarmed before we have even cleared the hanger." "If we had a sabre or longsword maybe we could escape." "Any ideas son?"

"Hey ugly!" He tackled the elite and tried to keep him pinned on the floor for as long as possible. It was a violent struggle between them and the elite showed no signs of relenting. "Get out of here now! Get to the hanger!" There would be more coming, it was only a matter of time. The elite was vicious in his attacks. It was going to be a battle of endurance. "I'll buy you time!" He made sure that all the marines were gone. One of them had already been killed by this freak. Murphy glanced towards, the body and noticed it was breathing. He was alive and that gave him the strength to ram the arbiter through the console. He was knocked out, but there was no time to finish him off. Carrying the marine, he made sure both the Admiral and Anton were gone. Distant footfalls and alien voices could be heard. He ran in the opposite direction of the hanger. If he could get to a fighter bay, they could make an attempt at escape. He heard a grunting from behind him. "Sleeping beauty's awake!"

"Shut it marine!" "Three plus hostiles, Admiral taken hostage, AI in danger of capture, bridge crew executed." It was all communicated in sign language of course. The marines were ready, they had a strong sense of determination. He signalled for two of the marines to assist in providing covering fire, while the rest get the admiral and Anton. With a nod on both sides, they began the move, breaking the door down. They went in guns blazing, forcing the elites into cover. "GO NOW, GET THEM OUT!"

"You hear that! Radio's working. Come on, let's go! Actually, I need you to go to the hanger, prep the pelican for evac." "Alright, I'll wait as long as I can. I'll take good care of it, her, whatever!" They both split up and headed in opposite directions, the marines proceeded ahead of them.. It was slow and dangerous going through the ship, it had been overrun with covenant forces. Murphy approached the bridge door, blown ajar with a plasma charge. He could hear executions of bridge crew, elites talking and the Admiral. He tensed up at hearing the admiral's voice. Hostages always got messy. "Looks like I'm the first one here. As as those marines arrive, we'll go in. Going out might be fun." He thought.

They moved steadily along the dark corridor, all the while getting closer to the reactor. It was at last in sight and appeared to be still in human hands. "They're human alright, no scales or sharp teeth." "Hey, were friendlies! Will you stop pointing that thing at me?" "I'm under strict orders to not let anyone through, if you come closer, I'll have to open fire!" "Open fire? Son, if I ever hear you threaten to open fire on me again, I'll guarantee you'll be hiding behind the elites from me. Now, I suggest you go get whoever gave you that order and bring him out here! Spartan, keep that gun ready, this could go bad."

"We know all about those boarding parties." The exchange of small arms was nerve wrecking for the crewmen, but Murphy kept calm as he proceeded to take down the boarders. As the last of the Elites fell, damage control teams were rushing to put out the fire's that were inching ever closer towards the ammunition. It was then when the lights cut, the darkness covered most of the hanger. One by one torches came on, removing the darkness. "Bridge, I need those lights back on! Bridge? Come in!" "It's no good sir, comms are being jammed. It's a local source, covies must have had brought it with them." "Well then we'll just have to stand up and shout. Marines, stay here and secure the area, for all we know, were the last people alive. Spartan, you're with me, were going to the reactor." "The reactor? They wouldn't risk it, it would destroy the whole planet." "I'd do it." The two of them moved through the dark corridors, inching towards the reactor slowly.

"Got that, have any available ODST's or Spartans meet me in 22 C." "And please do take care of the Infinity, I'm sure the covenant don't have insurance." He was running as fast as he could. The thought of taking out a Super carrier made him giddy.

"How the hell did a covie ship get this close to us?" "Admiral, ONI can wait, this is more important. I'll be in the armoury." He took off before anyone could object. Wounds be damned! He wasn't going to let covies have easy prey. Everyone he met along the way was told of the situation, hoping it could save their lives somehow. He ran towards the S-deck armoury. "Get me suited up now! I'll need my gear." "Tell everyone to be ready for a boarding action by the covies. I'll want to pay them back." As soon as the final piece was secured, Murphy ran to the armoury and grabbed his gear. "Anton, tell me where to shoot!" The ship shook as if from a direct hit. Murphy turned towards other spartans in the armoury. "Let's load and lock and roll and rock!"

"All of them?" He gave the admiral a look and nothing more. The ONI officer wanted to speak with him and he wanted to know why. It was already bad without ONI getting involved. His opening sentence showed his feelings toward them. "What the hell does ONI want?"

"Admiral, what's going on down there? How many survivor's are there?" "And what does ONI have to do with me? I'm just a grunt." "I think I've done enough to get an honest answer from you.....sir."