"Just one more thing....and.....Got it!" Jason exclaimed. I looked up and slowly got to my feet to head over. We had been sitting here for quite a few minutes and although the wound in my chest had been sealed from the outside, the lack of air and pain was starting to get to me as the adrenaline from earlier wore off.

"Are the guns back online?" Cameron asked hopefully, moving over to him to look at the panel. "Well, kinda." Jason said sheepishly, still fixated on the terminal. Cameron threw up his hands in exasperation "How can you 'kinda' fix them? It's a yes or no question!" Jason protested at the accusation and I came to a stop next to them, looking back and forth between the two. "Kinda like the time you "kind of" saved me." I said, mustering my strength to talk over them and subconsciously holding my chest. Cameron backed off and let Jason talk. "Well, I couldn't fix them to where they are working right away, someone has to activate them manually and that panel is on the upper deck. I'll call Del'Rio and tell him so he can have someone head up there and do that. I'd volunteer our squad, but it would take us even longer than it took me to fix this to reach that area, not to mention we don't have a whole lot of firepower to deal with all of the Covenant and Prometheans that have gathered up there, and we have injured."

He looked at me and I nodded weakly. He nodded back and lifted his hand to his COM button. "Infinity, come in, this is Technician Jason, code number Delta O Five Two Niner." There was a pause as they switched to his channel. I didn't know there was a code. I stepped closer and gave Jason a look that said, what's up? He shook his head and listened. "We read you loud and clear five two niner, go ahead." A woman's voice said. "Please patch me into Del'Rio, we may have a way to get rid of the Didact and need assistance." Jason responded. "Affirmative, link secured." She said, and then the radio cut to static for a moment. The link was with all of us so we could all communicate, but it was probably better just to let Jason handle this.

"This is Del'Rio," a deep voice said. There was gunfire in the background of the transmission. "This is Delta O Five Two Niner Sir, the MAC AA guns are online but manual activation is required on the top deck terminal. Requesting assistance in accessing the terminal." Jason replied, urgency in his voice. "Acknowledged, sending someone to assist. Over and out." Del'Rio responded. The radio feed cut out for the final time, and we turned off the channel in our helmets.

"Alright, we can't stay here forever so we should get moving. We will be better off if we can find a turret. After all, we are pretty low on ammo and the more fire power, the better." I said and grabbed my gun, ignoring the stabbing pain in my chest. "I'll lead. And fire. You're in no condition to man the turret so you get to sit on the sidelines for this one Kyle." Jason delegated. Before I could protest, he shouldered his tools and started jogging down the stairs. Cameron shrugged and offered his shoulder for me to lean on. I gratefully accepted, the lack of oxygen from my reduced lung capacity was really catching up to me now, and I was beginning to feel weak on top of the pain. We hobbled down the stairs and made it to the door. Jason scouted the area real quick and waved us to go ahead as it was clear in our vicinity. As soon as we passed the threshold of the door, we were assaulted with the sounds of gunfire and explosions. We saw a covenant ship go down to our right from a missile and looked to where the munitions had been fired from There was a mantis on the main deck with a smoking barrel. A person hopped out and ran over to the AA gun controls that needed manual activation. They managed to get someone there pretty dang quick!

Hey, he looks familiar. I squinted, and then realized who I was looking at. A larger than normal army-green suit of armor, the familiar motorcycle helmet-shaped visor and lights. That's Master Chief! He made it! Cameron dragged me over next to a turret that was on the deck and sat me down. I nodded my thanks and Jason mounted it. Looking back to Master Chief, I saw him punch a button in the panel and the massive AA guns suddenly rose simultaneously. They aimed towards the giant orange ball and fired. Everyone started shooting at once. This is the final stand! I realized. They're throwing everything they've got at it. They fired again. Jason fired as well, realizing what I did. The noise of the machine gun right next to my head was deafening. I watch as the weapons force the didact orb to slowly back up, and then zoom away. There were cheers on all of the decks and the firing stopped. I breathed a sigh of relief. Mission accomplished. Jason smile and looked down at me. I smiled back, "We did it."

He nodded. "Couldn't have done it without you." He said. Cameron, who had been on a turret farther away, came over. "I guess we should get you to the infirmary. Can't thank you enough for saving my life." He said gratefully, offering me his hand. I grabbed it and he pulled me up, putting my arm around his shoulder. "We needed your hand to hand combat skills." I joked. He grinned, "Hey nobody's perfect, and that Elite had an unfair advantage." I laughed painfully. We started walking to the nearest door and Jason took lead to watch for any covenant or Prometheans. There was no need though, they had all abandoned the ship when the Didact had been driven back. We made our way back inside the ship. It was deathly quiet, the silence broken only by our boots thunking against the metal floor and my ragged breathing.

Funny, how it can be so quiet after all that noise made by the fighting. I coughed, pain shooting through my chest and my breath hitched to smother the pain. Cameron exchanged a worried look but I just gave him a look that said, I'm fine, stop worrying about me. He shrugged slightly and shifted my arm on him so that I was holding onto him more securely. We arrived at a room with a white door and a red Cross. Despite the silence of the ship, we could hear a decent commotion inside. "Well, this is my stop." I said, smiling at the both of them. Jason stepped up to it and the door opened. He gestured me and Cameron inside. I stumbled into the bright lights, noise assaulting me. Squinting, I raised my hand to adjust to the lighting change. What I saw.... was horrific.

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The room was full of people on stretchers or beds, some moaning or crying out in either pain or delirium. Some had minor things like a plasma wound to the arm or a shallow knife wound, but others were missing body parts or had gaping holes in their sides or limbs. How some of them were even alive was a miracle at the least.

I nearly puked at the sight and smell. Cameron walked pass the rows, keeping his eyes forward and his face grim. I followed suit and it was a little easier to hold in my lunch. We walked up to a curtain in the back and Jason called softly through it. A woman in a white coat came out. Jason exchanged a few words and she nodded. "Bring him right here." She said, opening the curtain and pointing to a bed just inside. "We'll get you fixed up right away. Del'Rio has a special mission for you as soon as we are done." I froze as I was sitting down on the bed. What did she say?

_____________________________

Steele's POV

I sat up on the bench, sweating and breathing a little harder. I wiped my brow and breathed heavily. I had been bench pressing for the better part of thirty minutes and had gradually made my way to 300 lbs as I tested what my new muscles could withstand while I was still recovering. I stood up and grabbed a drink of water at a nearby table. Letting the cold water run down my throat, I thought back to when I broke the ODST'S nose. He had it coming but in hindsight I should have restrained myself more, that was unbecoming of someone of my caliber who was supposed to be a moderately high ranking officer. In my defense, I hadn't known the bar would have been that easy to push up so quickly.

Well, I guess I'm ready to go back. I felt in my pocket for the chip, taking it out. I pressed the button, pushing lightly. I wouldn't underestimate my strength a second time. I waited, and barely two minutes later the door opened. I got up and saw that it was the woman, still wearing a smile. That was fast. She walked up to me and said, "This way please." And gestured for me to go out the door. That smile still unnerved me. I walked past her into the hall and she stepped out as well and without a word, started walking down the ball to my left. I quickly hurried to catch up. I walked quietly and she said nothing until I reach my quarters. "Here you go, just ask for me if you need to go anywhere." She said, and left as swiftly as she came. I had walked in but now I quickly grabbed a computer chip and set on the ground between the door and the wall before it closed completely so it wouldn't lock. You never know when you might need a quick escape.

There was the sound of something electrical firing up as I turned around and I saw that the monitor had turned on. There was the doctor that helped me heal on the screen and he spoke asking, "Steele, please come to the recovery room. I need to talk to you." I nodded, "Affirmative." I replied. He then followed up with, "and be quiet about it, avoid being seen as best you can." And disconnected. Better hurry then, it must be important. I closed the screen and went to the door. I started to pry it open, grunting in exertion. I got it to where it was wide enough for me to fit past sideways and quickly stepped through. Then I stopped and grabbed the chip. I tossed it in the air, see, you never know when you might need to exit quickly. I stowed it in a pocket and walked down the hallway, acknowledging other soldiers and striding with a purpose so no one would talk to me. I reached the door that I had exited not too long ago. I shivered, those augmentations are something I do Not want to repeat.

I knocked on the door a random pattern so he would know it was me. The door opened not a moment later and I entered the semi-dark room. He was in the back sitting on a bed. I paused near the door, unsure. Does he want me to join him? He waved me over. I guess that's a yes. I quickly walked over to him and stopped, "You wanted me." I said, neither confirming nor questioning it.

"Ah yes. First, I need to do a checkup. Sit here." He patted the bed next to him and got up. I sat down and held out my arm so he could put the equipment on. As he was doing so he said, "Any more side-effects? Pain, dizziness, etcetera?" "No, none since two days ago, and then it was a bit of pain in my legs and a small migraine and some dizziness." I replied, tensing as he strapped it on tightly. "Yes, normal, vitals normal." He checked his tablet and then the device again. "Everything seems good. One moment." He said and took it back off, packing it away. "Now," he shoved a particularly large piece in the bag, "about the other thing, since you have fully recovered, you are going back to Atrius but there Is one thing no one has told you." He said, looking around to make sure their were no cameras or people who could be eavesdropping.

I leaned in, he will probably whisper this. He said in a low voice, "We are in trouble, the Covenant are on the verge of an invasion on Atrius. They need you and will use you as much as they can. But we needed help so there are other soldiers coming to assist. They actually will be here in a few days." He checked his watch to be sure. What? Why wasn't I told Atrius was going to be invaded. After all, I am a 2nd class petty officer, I thought this kind of information was within my chain of command? He continued, "So be ready, it could happen any day now. I have faith in you."

I nodded, "I'll keep an eye out." I said thankfully. Man, this is a lot to process. I turned away but he spoke again. "Oh, and one last thing. You will be getting your MJOLNIR mark VI armor pretty soon!" I whipped around. What did he just say?