AN: So, this is my first story that I am sharing/posting with anyone. So, please give feedback. I am always looking to improve my writing skills. I'll attempt to respond to any reviews left behind. Thank you and enjoy.

December 12th, 2551;

Outer Colony of Domus, final holding position against Covenant Invasion Force; formerly known as the UNSC Beliefs Edge.

"Men, I know that the situation seems grim," the CO said to the assembled soldiers. He looked around, catching each one in their eyes. "I know that it seems that all is lost… that no matter what we do, we won't survive. But I just want every single one of you to know. You lot are the best soldiers I've had under my command. We've made these damn aliens pay for every single inch of soil that they've taken with gallons of their blood. Whether it's from those fucking apes, or the bloody hinge heads, they've suffered countless losses. We've managed to save as many civilians as possible in the short time since they started this invasion. Around one million people are alive because of you. We've saved so many, so why don't we save a few more by holding them for as long as we can. I don't care how we do it, just as long as it gets done. I'm proud to have served with you all. Let's give 'em hell!"

With that, the assembled remaining UNSC marines entered the trenches, mounting turrets, chambering rounds, and loading the AA batteries. There were currently three Scorpion Tanks remaining, 66 tones of HE spewing divine intervention per tank. The purr of the warthogs' engines sounded like a cat of some kind. In the ruins of the Beliefs Edge, the marines had managed to set up the last remaining base on the entirety of Domus. As a final way to say, "Fuck you" to the Covie bastards, they set the SlipSpace core to remotely detonate, if and when the base was about to fall. In the distance, the faint clanking of Scarabs could be heard.

Major Zacarias Brown scoped into his standard issue SRS99C-S2 Anti-Matériel Rifle provided by the good, reliable folks at Misriah Armory. He could see multiple Banshees approaching. Placing the rifle on the ground next to him, he picked up the M6 Grindell Nonlinear Rifle, or Spartan Laser as it was dubbed, and took aim. He tapped the radio on his helmet. "Sir, two approaching Banshees from the south. Permission to engage?"

"Affirmative Major. Make sure none escape," the CO replied.

Zacarias lined up the sight on the Banshee in the back. If he destroyed this one first, it would be harder for the other one to get away. He squeezed the trigger and the weapon thrummed to life and a small laser popped out.

FWOOOM

The laser shot out of the gun and impacted the vehicle dead on. It was cut cleanly in two, the charred remains of an Elite corpse falling to the ground.

The lead vehicle, upon seeing its friend die, immediately went into evasive maneuvers. It was too quick to track with the laser. So, Zacarias placed the laser down and picked up his rifle. It wasn't as bulky as the laser, so he could maneuver more. Three well placed shots and it dropped out of the sky in flames onto the desert below.

"Nice shooting, Z," said a voice from behind. Zacarias turned to see his one true friend in the entire army stationed on Domus. Corporal Elizabeth Stevens. "Looks like you got first blood."

"Well, I wasn't gonna let some automated turret get it," Zacarias replied with a toothy grin, which Elizabeth returned.

"But maybe I wanted the kills!" exclaimed Elizabeth, pushing him playfully. After a moment or two of silence, her face held a grim expression. "So, how long do you think we'll last?"

Zacarias mirrored the expression. "I'm not sure. But one things for certain. If they want this planet, they'll have to pry it from our cold, dead hands."

"Yeah, and even then they'll have trouble," Elizabeth said, the smile returning to her face. "Because I would have glued it to our cold, dead hands!" She let out a small chuckle, which Zacarias happily joined in.

"All units on the southern front, I repeat all units on the southern front. We have incoming bogies, and lots of 'em," the CO said over the COMMS. "I'm sending a Scorpion over to your position. Hold the line for as long as possible. If breached, contact me and head inside. Good luck."

Zacarias let out a small sigh and then turned to look in the distance. Sure enough, he could make out the shape of multiple Wraiths, Elites, Brutes, the whole lot. Quite a few Hunters, too. All headed straight towards them. "Suppose… it's time…"

"Z…" Elizabeth said, staring at the approaching forces while readying her DMR.

"Yeah?" asked Zacarias, making sure his rifle had a fresh clip.

"If we don't make it…" she began, only to be stopped by Zacarias placing a hand on her shoulder.

"We'll be fine," he replied, doing his best to muster what confidence he had left into a smile. Though, it really wasn't much.

She returned the smile and looked down the trench to her left. A single Scorpion tank rolled up and aimed its main gun towards the incoming hostile forces. Marines, at least a hundred of them, filled in their places. Some mounted on turrets while others were only equipped with a standard issue Magnum. There were even a few with Covie weapons.

"Well, let's give 'em hell," she said as she lay down in the sand, lining up her shot.

December 14th, 2551

Outer Colony of Domus, inside the former ship the UNSC Beliefs Edge.

"Get in there!" called a marine, Private Jones if Zacarias remembered correctly. He was currently using the LAAG mounted on the back of a flipped Warthog to provide covering fire. He had a brown spike protruding from his left leg.

Zacarias was currently dragging Elizabeth out of the line of fire. She had taken an overcharged shot from a Plasma Pistol. It had ate straight through her armor, the chestplate melting onto her skin.

Strapped to his was his Spartan Laser, now completely out of battery. Elizabeth had his sniper rifle cradled in her arms. He looked up to Jones as he entered the hangar doors. "Private, get your ass in here!"

As he said that, a Brute Chieftan ran up to the flipped hog and swung its hammer, hitting the underside of the vehicle. It launched through the air and landed in front of the entrance, blocking anyone else from getting through. Jones was left on the ground, screaming in pain as the sudden movement of the vehicle broke his left arm.

The Brute did its species equivalent of a grin as it stared down at the helpless soldier. It bent down and grabbed him by the neck and spoke. "You shall die, just like the rest of you pathetic species."

"Yeah, well you're coming with me," Jones replied, shoving an ignited plasma grenade onto its chestplate. Its grin instantly disappeared. There was a flash of blue and both figures were gone, vaporized by the blast.

"Dammit! Close the door!" Zacarias called to a nearby marine who nodded. He entered a code and the door slowly closed. "Where's the CO?"
"Dead, sir," a woman said, looking towards the ground. "We're all that's left."

Zacarias looked around and counted a total of seventeen marines, most of whom had some form of injury or another. He then looked down at Elizabeth, still clutching his rifle. Her breathing was getting ragged. He leaned her against a nearby wall and looked into her face. The light in her eyes was nearly gone. They slowly began to close.

"I-I don't… think I've got lo-long Z," she said, looking into his eyes. Even though she was in immense amounts of pain, she managed a smile.

"Please don't say that…" Zacarias said as he heard clanging from behind the door. He looked towards it and saw an enormous dent. 'Hunters…'

"Heh…" she managed. She slowly tilted his rifle towards him. "I-I thi-think you'll need t-this…"

He grabbed it as another clang sounded against the the door. Sunlight began to pour through a crack forming between the doors. "See ya… on the… other side." And with that, her head lulled slightly to the side, her eyes going glassy.

Zacarias moved his hand towards her neck and removed her dog tags. He stared at them for awhile before a tear left his eye. "God dammit! Why do they always have to take from us?! Why?!" He punched his hand into the wall, not even noticing the pain it caused him.

"Sir? What are your orders?" asked a marine, uncertain of what to do now.

Zacarias turned and looked him in the eyes. He wiped the tear from his eye and looked at the other survivors. "We've gotta detonate the bomb. Wipe 'em off the face of this planet."

The marine nodded before gesturing for the others to follow him, leaving Zacarias with Elizabeth's body.

There was another clang on the door and sunlight burst in, blinding him slightly. He turned and saw a large Elite in crimson armor, a Zealot if he remember correctly. In its hand was a glowing, blue Energy Sword.

'Well… shit.'

Zacarias looked at Elizabeth and then down the hallway. He got up, aimed his rifle at the Zealot, and fired as he backed away. As he did, he noticed countless numbers of Covies behind it.

BANG

The first round impact on its shielding and bounced off. The Elite laughed as it slowly walked forward.

BANG

He cracked off another shot, missing it by a couple of inches. It kept walking forward, slowly as if this were all just a game to it.

BANG

This one impacted the shields again, causing them to flare once again, almost entirely destroyed. The Elite picked up the pace and Zacarias turned and sprinted down the hall. He threw a fragmentation grenade over his shoulder. It exploded and he looked back. It was still advancing, not even phased by the detonation.

As he sprinted down the hall, a marine popped out of a connected hallway and sprayed fire from her assault rifle. Zacarias looked at her and saw it was Private Smith, bravely covering her new CO's escape.

The Elite just laughed again and charged her, stabbing her in the abdomen. It tossed the corpse of the former marine to the side, her rifle clanging to the floor.

'Almost to the Drive room'

He saw the doorway in front of him and picked up his pace. He burst in and looked around. Two marines were currently standing around the makeshift bomb, tinkering with the control panel. The other fourteen marines looked at him and then towards the doorway. They didn't see anything following him.

"Time on the bomb?" asked Zacarias, catching his breath.

"I've set a timer for about ten seconds. Should I start it now?" asked one of the marines at the control panel.

"Do i-" Zacarias began, only to be interrupted by three bodies hitting the floor, all without heads. After about three seconds, two more joined them. These ones, however, were cut completely in half. "Hit the switch!"

Without asking any questions, the marine pressed the button and the counter started.

10

The Zealot decloaked and charged towards another marine, picking it up by the throat and throwing it into his friend.

9

Before the two could get off of the ground, they were both skewered simultaneously.

8

A brave marine jumped onto its back and attempted to stab it with its knife. Unfortunately, the Zealot ripped him off of its back and threw him into a wall. A blood splatter was visible against the grey wall.

7

Zacarias attempted to take aim with his sniper rifle, but another marine got in his way holding a grenade. It was primed.

6

The Zealot picked up the marine and threw him down the hallway it had come from.

5

Zacarias was finally able to line up a shot. But, when he pulled the trigger, it clicked empty.

'Shit!'

4

The Zealot then lunged at the remaining four marines.

3

It slaughtered every single one of them.

2

Zacarias was the only marine left. In the distance he heard a faint explosion, probably caused by the marine that tried to use the grenade.

1

The Zealot laughed as it walked up to him.

0

Zacarias joined in as everything was consumed in a dark, purple light.

AN: So, what did you think? Should I add more details, try to explain things further? Or is it good? Thank you again for reading. If its really bad I might just take it down. Have a nice day.

-Knight's Ascendant