Halo Infinite

prinCZess

Warrior, Writer, Performer, Perv
They are going to add CO-OP you know.
Just spring if next year
Back in my day, developers finished the basic features in their games, like cooperative or level selection, before releasing them. But I think you missed something:
This has my inner grumpy old person very salty, so no need for anyone to argue or point out any justification for it--just let me be salty and nostalgic.
:p

Mostly a legacy complaint because even when they do add cooperative, I'm sure 343 will do the Halo 5 online-only cooperative silliness, and--as said--my grumpy old person inside despises that because I played the old ones on the couch alongside the sister and removing basic stuff like that in future releases feels...shitty. Was a big point to the franchise personally (and, to be fair to 343, might be a Microsoft-imposed thing to try and encourage Live subscriptions) *shrug*
 

Zachowon

The Army Life for me! The POG life for me!
Founder
Back in my day, developers finished the basic features in their games, like cooperative or level selection, before releasing them. But I think you missed something:

:p

Mostly a legacy complaint because even when they do add cooperative, I'm sure 343 will do the Halo 5 online-only cooperative silliness, and--as said--my grumpy old person inside despises that because I played the old ones on the couch alongside the sister and removing basic stuff like that in future releases feels...shitty. Was a big point to the franchise personally (and, to be fair to 343, might be a Microsoft-imposed thing to try and encourage Live subscriptions) *shrug*
Apprrently their is a glitch that allows couch coop
 

DarthOne

☦️
So having played multiplayer and watched some lets playes of the campaign (I haven't bought it yet, as I'm short on cash and not sure it lives up to my standards) I've got some thoughts to share.


Storytelling:
Make the damn game M-rated.

the Banished commanders could have done with more fleshing out in their motives and in terms of doing more actual encounters with them. I’d rather see a handful of well-rounded enemy leader characters then dozens that show up and get killed.

A real missed opportunity to not have some human-aligned Banished. As human enemies in the campaign isn’t something Halo has EVER done before, and it would help distinguish the Banished from the Covenant and the Covenant Remnants. Some Banished aligned Spartans could have been neat opponents too. For extra fun, have these be a mix of Spartan III’s and IV’s, with maybe a II here or there. That way it doesn’t accidentally come across as favoritism towards any particular generation of Spartans. Obviously exploring the reasons why these people defected would be neat.

Furthermore, having the Banished being willing to recruit humans and use charisma, promises of power, wealth or whatever else to sway people to their side would make them unique and fit Atriox’s views.

I seriously hope they do something really good with the Endless, as right now they come across as a poor attempt to one-up the Flood as something the Forerunners were scared of. As well as a limp attempt to make something scarier than both the Flood and the Forerunners.

they have got some serious explaining to give for why Atriox let the Banished think he was dead and how Chief managed to survive in space for 6 months. Possibly it could be the result of manipulation by the Endless, who seem to have the ability to control time.

Would be nice to see the Arbiter again and maybe have some missions where he’s playable. Likewise, exploring the Banished through the perspective of a Brute, Sanghelli or even a human would have been great. Still, there's hope for the future, even if it seems unlikely.

I won’t complain about the lack of the Flood on Zeta Halo, which is supposed to be heavily tied in with them, yet. As Halo infinite is supposed to go on for several years so there’s plenty of opportunities to have them show up.

While I wasn't the biggest fan of Halo 5's story or the AI rebellion, I do see why people were displeased at how abruptly it was swept under the rug. I feel that more could have been done with how Cortana 'changed her mind'; and I feel that they should have started the game off a little slower, instead of having you kill off so much of the Banished leadership and Atriox's mentor. Basically, go back to Halo 1-2 a bit. Right now, the Banished feels sort of weak and the story feels rushed.

Multiplayer:

Armor cores should have only existed as a way of separating Brute, Spartan and Sangheili armor types. And in the case of the Fractures alternative timelines, I would have kept them separate cores as a way to give the artists more freedom in their designs and less worries about armor pieces from different types clipping into each other. Likewise, I would have kept the Fractures armor being something that’s earned via challenges.

probably would have toned back on the sheer variety of armor types a little. Think more along Halo 3's level.

The game should allow you to have default color options and selections. With ones being earned via events or seasons being unique paint jobs for those who want to have them.

playable Sangheili in multiplayer, as well as playable Brutes.

EDIT:
More multiplayer maps please

Weapons I’d like to see in Halo Infinite:

Banished:
Brute plasma rifle: an equivalent to the UNSC Assault Rifle. Also as an alternative to the Ravager without the arcing fire issue. Also admittedly because I'm a sucker for that weapon.

Spike Rifle: equivalent to the UNSC SMG, assuming it’s put in. Also as an alternative to the Ravager. Would use the Halo Wars 2 design. Alternatively, have it be a sort of Banished version of the VK78 Commando.

Brute shot: because how can you not have it given how many Brutes are running around? Also could serve as an alternative to the Cindershot.

Covenant Carbine- either as an alternative to the Pulse Carbine or a replacement.
  • alternatively, drop the Pulse Carbine for a retooled Stalker Rifle which would serve in the role as a Banished replacement for the Covenant Carbine. With the new Banished Sniper Rifle using a slightly modified design of the Shock Rifle; with the original Shock Rifle being removed entirely.

Fuel Rod Gun: a middle ground between the rocket launcher and the Skewer. As well as an alternative or sorts of the Hydra in terms of a quicker firing explosive Assault weapon.

UNSC:
Submachine Gun: a more rapid-fire, if inaccurate, alternative to the Assault Rifle. As well as something of one for the shotgun.

Misc weapon changes:

Either increase the power of the shotgun, or nerf the power of the energy sword. As right now the shotgun is too weak to serve as a counter weapon to the energy sword like in classic Halo.

why in God’s name does the Sentinel beam have such high recoil? Reduce the damage being dealt if you must, but tone down the recoil!

why do we need the Disruptor pistol when the plasma pistol already served its role as an anti-shield/anti-vehicle stun weapon? Get rid of the disruptor pistol and gives us back the plasma pistol’s vehicle stun ability. Also, change its appearance a little to give it more of a Banished feel.

Give the rocket launcher it’s tracking ability from Halo 2 back. Even if it’s just for anti-air vehicles and the tracking gets nerfed a little, it needs to return.
 
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Zachowon

The Army Life for me! The POG life for me!
Founder
So having played multiplayer and watched some lets playes of the campaign (I haven't bought it yet, as I'm short on cash and not sure it lives up to my standards) I've got some thoughts to share.


Storytelling:
Make the damn game M-rated.

the Banished commanders could have done with more fleshing out in their motives and in terms of doing more actual encounters with them. I’d rather see a handful of well-rounded enemy leader characters then dozens that show up and get killed.

A real missed opportunity to not have some human-aligned Banished. As human enemies in the campaign isn’t something Halo has EVER done before, and it would help distinguish the Banished from the Covenant and the Covenant Remnants. Some Banished aligned Spartans could have been neat opponents too. For extra fun, have these be a mix of Spartan III’s and IV’s, with maybe a II here or there. That way it doesn’t accidentally come across as favoritism towards any particular generation of Spartans. Obviously exploring the reasons why these people defected would be neat.

Furthermore, having the Banished being willing to recruit humans and use charisma, promises of power, wealth or whatever else to sway people to their side would make them unique and fit Atriox’s views.

I seriously hope they do something really good with the Endless, as right now they come across as a poor attempt to one-up the Flood as something the Forerunners were scared of. As well as a limp attempt to make something scarier than both the Flood and the Forerunners.

they have got some serious explaining to give for why Atriox let the Banished think he was dead and how Chief managed to survive in space for 6 months. Possibly it could be the result of manipulation by the Endless, who seem to have the ability to control time.

Would be nice to see the Arbiter again and maybe have some missions where he’s playable. Likewise, exploring the Banished through the perspective of a Brute, Sanghelli or even a human would have been great. Still, there's hope for the future, even if it seems unlikely.

I won’t complain about the lack of the Flood on Zeta Halo, which is supposed to be heavily tied in with them, yet. As Halo infinite is supposed to go on for several years so there’s plenty of opportunities to have them show up.

While I wasn't the biggest fan of Halo 5's story or the AI rebellion, I do see why people were displeased at how abruptly it was swept under the rug. I feel that more could have been done with how Cortana 'changed her mind'; and I feel that they should have started the game off a little slower, instead of having you kill off so much of the Banished leadership and Atriox's mentor. Basically, go back to Halo 1-2 a bit. Right now, the Banished feels sort of weak and the story feels rushed.

Multiplayer:

Armor cores should have only existed as a way of separating Brute, Spartan and Sangheili armor types. And in the case of the Fractures alternative timelines, I would have kept them separate cores as a way to give the artists more freedom in their designs and less worries about armor pieces from different types clipping into each other. Likewise, I would have kept the Fractures armor being something that’s earned via challenges.

probably would have toned back on the sheer variety of armor types a little. Think more along Halo 3's level.

The game should allow you to have default color options and selections. With ones being earned via events or seasons being unique paint jobs for those who want to have them.

playable Sangheili in multiplayer, as well as playable Brutes.

Weapons I’d like to see in Halo Infinite:

Banished:
Brute plasma rifle: an equivalent to the UNSC Assault Rifle. Also as an alternative to the Ravager without the arcing fire issue. Also admittedly because I'm a sucker for that weapon.

Spike Rifle: equivalent to the UNSC SMG, assuming it’s put in. Also as an alternative to the Ravager. Would use the Halo Wars 2 design. Alternatively, have it be a sort of Banished version of the VK78 Commando.

Brute shot: because how can you not have it given how many Brutes are running around? Also could serve as an alternative to the Cindershot.

Covenant Carbine- either as an alternative to the Pulse Carbine or a replacement.
  • alternatively, drop the Pulse Carbine for a retooled Stalker Rifle which would serve in the role as a Banished replacement for the Covenant Carbine. With the new Banished Sniper Rifle using a slightly modified design of the Shock Rifle; with the original Shock Rifle being removed entirely.

Fuel Rod Gun: a middle ground between the rocket launcher and the Skewer. As well as an alternative or sorts of the Hydra in terms of a quicker firing explosive Assault weapon.

UNSC:
Submachine Gun: a more rapid-fire, if inaccurate, alternative to the Assault Rifle. As well as something of one for the shotgun.

Misc weapon changes:

Either increase the power of the shotgun, or nerf the power of the energy sword. As right now the shotgun is too weak to serve as a counter weapon to the energy sword like in classic Halo.

why in God’s name does the Sentinel beam have such high recoil? Reduce the damage being dealt if you must, but tone down the recoil!

why do we need the Disruptor pistol when the plasma pistol already served its role as an anti-shield/anti-vehicle stun weapon? Get rid of the disruptor pistol and gives us back the plasma pistol’s vehicle stun ability. Also, change its appearance a little to give it more of a Banished feel.

Give the rocket launcher it’s tracking ability from Halo 2 back. Even if it’s just for anti-air vehicles and the tracking gets nerfed a little, it needs to return.
The banished are smart brutes basically, and they would never allow humans because Humans are too good of food.
Halo isn't Halonif you have to fight human enemies.

There is still a lot we are going to see come from infinite so we have to wait and see what 343 do.
 

ParadiseLost

Well-known member
I agree, I don't want human enemies in Halo.

Honestly, the best hope for Halo is if Microsoft lends a few Bethesda or Obsidian writers to an Activision Blizzard studio and have them make a Halo game.

343 is incompetent and can't make a true Halo game, that's pretty clear by now.
 

Zachowon

The Army Life for me! The POG life for me!
Founder
I agree, I don't want human enemies in Halo.

Honestly, the best hope for Halo is if Microsoft lends a few Bethesda or Obsidian writers to an Activision Blizzard studio and have them make a Halo game.

343 is incompetent and can't make a true Halo game, that's pretty clear by now.
I mean Infinite at least has a competent story
 

Spartan303

In Captain America we Trust!
Administrator
Staff Member
Founder
Osaul
I mean Infinite at least has a competent story

Only after the colossal fuckup of Halo 5 in which they betrayed everything that made the series great in the first place. They literally had to go back and do a soft relaunch of the series.
 

Zachowon

The Army Life for me! The POG life for me!
Founder
Only after the colossal fuckup of Halo 5 in which they betrayed everything that made the series great in the first place. They literally had to go back and do a soft relaunch of the series.
I mean it is perfectly fine woth me
 

DarthOne

☦️
The banished are smart brutes basically, and they would never allow humans because Humans are too good of food.
Halo isn't Halonif you have to fight human enemies.

There is still a lot we are going to see come from infinite so we have to wait and see what 343 do.

I agree, I don't want human enemies in Halo.

Wrong on multiple counts. To quote from the Halo Wiki

Likewise, Atriox had no animosity towards humans,[16][15] nor did he care for the Sangheili-Jiralhanae feud.[52] Atriox viewed both humans and Sangheili as warriors with potential usefulness to him;[28][57] though other leaders would struggle to hold control over bitter rivals on the battlefield, Atriox's charisma and the fervor it inspired in his followers made it possible.


Also, the post- Covenant group known as the Keepers of the One Freedom had quite a few humans in their ranks and they were led by Jiralhanae.

Additionally, I see no reason why Atriox wouldn't allow humans into the Banished, as he's allowed pretty much everyone else. Including, famously, a group of Sanghelli Silent Shadows who'd been dispatched to kill him in the waning days of the Covenant. Even the Grunts get better treatment in the Banished than in pretty much any other faction but the Swords of Sanghelios.

Furthermore, one of the lines spoken by the Brute AI Iratus when you use him in Halo multiplayer is a suggestion from him to 'take your skills to the Banished'. Dubious canon it might be, but the basic idea is out there.

"Vengeance is petty. Vengeance has no reward."
— Atriox attempting to recruit Resa 'Azavayl, pointing out the futility in feuds between their species

And I'd disagree about Halo 'not being Halo' if you fight humans. For one, various UNSC characters have fought other humans throughout the expanded universe. And furthermore, that sort of blanket dismissal is why we ended up where we are with 343 industries. First with Jul 'Mdama's 'I-Can't-Believe-It's-Not-Covenant' faction. Then we have the Didact who, thanks to his lackluster characterization in H4, is the Covenant Prophets in Dracula/Darth Vader cosplay. Bringing back Cortana was a mistake, but the basic idea of having you fight someone else besides a Covenant cover band or the Flood wasn't half bad.

Settings have to try to mix things up a little, otherwise, stories get stale. Of course, it has to be done right, otherwise, you get Disney Wars and the recent outings of Star Trek and Doctor Who. But I think the Banished and Halo are big enough to have a sprinkling of human and Spartan enemies.
 

Zachowon

The Army Life for me! The POG life for me!
Founder
Wrong on multiple counts. To quote from the Halo Wiki




Also, the post- Covenant group known as the Keepers of the One Freedom had quite a few humans in their ranks and they were led by Jiralhanae.

Additionally, I see no reason why Atriox wouldn't allow humans into the Banished, as he's allowed pretty much everyone else. Including, famously, a group of Sanghelli Silent Shadows who'd been dispatched to kill him in the waning days of the Covenant. Even the Grunts get better treatment in the Banished than in pretty much any other faction but the Swords of Sanghelios.

Furthermore, one of the lines spoken by the Brute AI Iratus when you use him in Halo multiplayer is a suggestion from him to 'take your skills to the Banished'. Dubious canon it might be, but the basic idea is out there.

"Vengeance is petty. Vengeance has no reward."
— Atriox attempting to recruit Resa 'Azavayl, pointing out the futility in feuds between their species

And I'd disagree about Halo 'not being Halo' if you fight humans. For one, various UNSC characters have fought other humans throughout the expanded universe. And furthermore, that sort of blanket dismissal is why we ended up where we are with 343 industries. First with Jul 'Mdama's 'I-Can't-Believe-It's-Not-Covenant' faction. Then we have the Didact who, thanks to his lackluster characterization in H4, is the Covenant Prophets in Dracula/Darth Vader cosplay. Bringing back Cortana was a mistake, but the basic idea of having you fight someone else besides a Covenant cover band or the Flood wasn't half bad.

Settings have to try to mix things up a little, otherwise, stories get stale. Of course, it has to be done right, otherwise, you get Disney Wars and the recent outings of Star Trek and Doctor Who. But I think the Banished and Halo are big enough to have a sprinkling of human and Spartan enemies.
Fighting Humans isn't what Halo is about, plus we have seen what happens to the UNSC Marines when they are captures by the Banished.
Used as training for the Banished troops.

Humans are also food for every other race, and the fact that unlike even Grunrs, Humans are just to weak unless they had Spartans, and we have Elites to make up for that
 

DarthOne

☦️
Fighting Humans isn't what Halo is about, plus we have seen what happens to the UNSC Marines when they are captures by the Banished.
Used as training for the Banished troops.

Humans are also food for every other race, and the fact that unlike even Grunrs, Humans are just to weak unless they had Spartans, and we have Elites to make up for that
My point is that you could have had some human soldiers defect after being captured. Or that these could be humans from elsewhere in the UNSC who joined the Banished.

As for what niche or role the humans would fulfill in combat, I imagine that one could easily come up with something. Perhaps as a middle ground between Jackals and Sanghelli.
 

DarthOne

☦️
STORY SHARD: THE LAST SKY MARSHAL

Fracture: Entrenched returns, and with it comes the first Story Shard.

Hosted here on Waypoint, Story Shards are a choose your own adventure-style story for Fractures. Set in the Entrenched universe and told over five parts, Parts 1-4 of The Last Sky Marshal will feature a cliffhanger where a dilemma will be presented, and the community will vote on where the story goes next.

What choice will be made? How will it end? That’s up to you...

You can cast your vote on Twitter, Waypoint, YouTube, Discord, Instagram, and the Official Halo Club on Xbox and PC. (Note: voting is open for one week!)

Fracture-Entrenched-Story-Shard-cover.jpg


(in-story links added by me to help with references)

THE FINAL WAR! Earth has been scoured by superscience aether-bombs in the conflict between the UNIFIED NATIONS SECURITY CONFEDERATION and the zealous, rad-poisoned mutants of THE COVENANT.

Our home has fallen, headquarters is lost, our generals are long dead, and the dire horde at our gates seek to bring about THE END OF HUMANITY!

BUT, HEROES HAVE RISEN! Alchemically-enhanced soldiers take to the front lines in their incredible EAGLESTRIKE armor, leading the charge and doing their part against our RELENTLESS ENEMY.

It is with these intrepid heroes
the SKY MARSHAL ASTRO-RANGERS, led by COMMANDER KOLBYthat the fate of humanity will be decided...

PART 1
1045 HOURS, NOVEMBER 3, 67 AP \ SCS BRÍSINGAMEN, APPROACHING CONSTRUCTION DOME ON LUNA

“Corporal, would you please describe the manner in which we will be engaging the enemy.”

“Sir! Feet first, sir!”

A chorus of oo-rahs sounded across the deck as Commander Kolby and his battalion prepared to drop. Cocooned within their vacuum-sealed, titanium-plated armor, it was the Sky Marshals that would—as always—take the lead as the Brísingamen, the frigate-class zeppelin and last space-faring vessel of the Unified Nations Security Confederation, opened its deployment bays.

Kolby’s training kicked in as the three-hundred Sky Marshal astro-rangers leapt out of the skyship and headed towards the steel dome surrounding the complex on the Moon, firing their thrusters to rocket through gaps in the dome’s plating from some previous battle early in the war that left this place derelict—plastered over now by arcanotech energy barriers.

That was the easy part.

Entering the vacuum-sealed interior of the dome revealed almost two square kilometers of factories, warehouses, and long-abandoned workshops, extending outwards on all sides from its magnificent centerpiece. Their target. Project: PERPETUA...

The mission was simple. The Covenant, zealous cultists who became warped abominations as they were mutated by the irradiated trenches and poisoned mires of Earth, had discovered an abandoned cosmodrome with functional off-world transport. Arriving at Luna, they reignited the dormant atomic piles to complete construction of Project: PERPETUA—a massive zeppelin that was in the process of being built in the earliest years of the war.

The SCS Perpetua was to be a shining symbol of hope for humanity’s recovery after the end of the last war, but no one had truly understood the scale of devastation that was on the horizon. Spoiled lands, divided nations, aether bombs... civilization itself collapsed, but humanity could not rely on the mercy of a short apocalypse. The inertia of that destruction was still carrying the corpse along through this Final War. Now, the Covenant planned to augment this zeppelin with their own esoteric arcanotechnology and unleash it upon humanity.

In the last war, Commander Kolby and his alchemically augmented Sky Marshals were also looked to as symbols of hope and heroism, but they would find no time to rest when the conflict had seemingly abated. The lights of democracy guttered in the wind as the Covenant cultists razed cities to the ground, leading the hard-pressed SCS command to ensure that the Sky Marshals’ service would continue, culminating in this mission which could determine the outcome of the Final War.

They were to either claim the Perpetua themselves and turn it on the Covenant mutants, or—failing that—detonate the atomic reactor used to power it and leave a new crater on the Moon.

But first, they had to take out the Covenant’s archon sky-strikers, or else—should the dome open for the Covenant to launch the PerpetuaBrísingamen would be shredded by the arcanotech-augmented machine cannons.

And if they had to destroy the Perpetua, they’d have no way off this rock.

An errant arcanotech bolt impacted and dissipated on Kolby’s Jacknife torso armor, an energized plate that added an extra few dozen kilos but ensured maximum front-facing protection. Kolby raised his rifle and fired as his Triplex Aero visor tracked the bolt’s trajectory, hitting his thrusters once more to propel himself at the line of Jackal merc-mutants. The creatures hid behind iron shields fashioned from the Eaglestrike armor of fallen warriors, but it did them little good. Catching one of the mutants in the side, dark green blood sprayed onto the ground as three of Kolby’s fellow Sky Marshals—Chen, Tchakova, and Vickers—arrived in formation to assist in the attack on the archon, breaking through the first line.

Eighteen of their number hadn’t made it, either killed by the impact or by the entrenched Covenant mutant forces. They all knew what they were fighting for and how thin the margin for error was; every soldier lost was one less chance they had to win the day for humanity. Kolby comforted himself with the thought that their odds were improving as his squad of Sky Marshals destroyed the first archon battery with a satchel of CX-12 explosives.

Scanning the horizon, Kolby tracked three other local archon emplacements which the other Sky Marshals were converging on, and, beyond them, the Covenant-occupied factory. Within that facility lay their prize.

At that moment, Kolby’s cosmocom radio picked up a local signal—but this wasn't from his Sky Marshals. Somebody else was here...

“Hallo. Ist jemand da?”

The voice that came through his cosmocom spoke in German, which Kolby cursed that he couldn’t translate.

“This is Commander Kolby of the Unified Nations Security Confederation. Identify yourself.”

"UNSC, hier? Es ist Professor Henrik Gläsmann, Dritteabteilung. Seit dem diese Dinger hier angekommen sind haben wir uns im Bunker verschanzt. Jetzt versuchen sie reinzukommen! Ich habe Zivilisten bei mir. Familien. Wir brauchen sofortige Hilfe!"*

Kolby gritted his teeth. They hadn’t come for a rescue mission, and they’d certainly not had intelligence on any remaining civilians on Luna, but one thing stood out in what Gläsmann had said: Dritteabteilung. Section Three.

Scientists—especially those affiliated with Section Three—had been marked as high value personnel. They were critical to understanding the Covenant’s arcanotech, plundering the myriad secrets of their cult, and advancing humanity’s own military hardware.

A thousand tactical questions rushed through his mind. Was this unexpected complication an opportunity? Could it be a trap? How many could feasibly be retasked for a rescue op? What intelligence might Gläsmann have that could aid the mission?

He took a breath to focus himself. The choice was clear.

*"It is Professor Henrik Gläsmann, Third Department. Since these things arrived here we have entrenched ourselves in the bunker. Now they are trying to get in! I have civilians with me. Families. We need immediate help!"
SHOULD COMMANDER KOLBY...

A) Rescue Professor Gläsmann and the civilians

OR

B) Ignore them and focus on the mission

Cast your vote on Twitter, Waypoint, YouTube, Discord, Instagram, and the Official Halo Club on Xbox and PC.
 

DarthOne

☦️
PART 2
A DARING ASSAULT! Commander Kolby leads three-hundred Sky Marshals to the Moon where the mutated abominations of THE COVENANT have infiltrated an old construction dome, within which they seek to complete the SCS PERPETUA star-zeppelin and bring about THE END OF HUMANITY!

While on the lunar surface, Commander Kolby receives a distress call from PROFESSOR HENRIK GLÄSMANN, a scientist claiming he and a group of civilians are trapped in a bunker, which presents A CONUNDRUM to the valiant Sky Marshal leader: deviate from the mission for a rescue operation, or ignore him to focus on the objective?

You’ve made your choice. Now see the consequences..
.

“Alright,” Commander Kolby spoke into his cosmocom. “I don’t know if you can understand me, but hold tight. I’m on my way.”
“Sir, what are you doing?” Tchakova asked.

“I need you, Chen, and Vickers to hold this position while I secure a high-value asset. If we need help dealing with Perpetua’s atomic reactor, this could be exactly what we need.”

Though the Sky Marshal was clearly conflicted by this sudden change in the mission’s parameters, she nodded and rocketed up to higher ground to take up overwatch with her sniper rifle.

Gläsmann had remained silent on the cosmocom but transmitted a waypoint to his HUD, directing him to a nearby bunker. Two mechanized steel doors built into a thick, slanted concrete box opened as he approached, inviting him below.

“I’m coming in, professor. Have your people ready.”

As Kolby headed down, he picked up the noise of hustle and bustle echoing up from within the vault—the sounds of dozens of feet stamping about, excited chatter, boxes and crates being moved and thumped down on the ground with haste, perhaps setting up a defensive perimeter in case of a breach. That was good. The word “civilian” was one that hadn’t been used for years, for it had come to lose all meaning in this total, all-consuming war.

At last, he arrived in the central vault chamber, its domed ceiling illuminated by small lights running along a thick wooden beam that spanned the length of the room, approximately fifteen meters in diameter and crudely sectioned off with various rooms—a kitchen, living quarters, workstations, and a closed door at the far end of the room that was surrounded by candlelight.

Kolby tightened his grip on his rifle as he saw no sign of anyone around, yet the sound of activity persisted. The floor was scuffed with boot prints, carpets were torn up... people had to have been here.

He listened closely, slowly making his approach towards the living quarters where the sound tracker of his Triplex Aero visor seemed to be picking up the noise source, aware that every second he was spending down here meant anything could be happening on the lunar surface.

As Kolby pushed into the living quarters, he felt a sudden impact strike his helmet and whirled to the side, weapon raised, to see a gaunt man in a white lab coat with mousy, golden hair. He held his hands up and shook them.

“Nicht schießen! Einen Moment!”

After a few seconds, a second voice in Kolby’s head repeated: “Don’t shoot! One moment.”

“Professor Gläsmann?” he asked.

“Ja,” he responded, pointing at Kolby’s helmet, his voice now just about synchronizing with the English translation. “I put earwig device on your head, let us understand each other.”

“Professor, where the hell is everyone? You said there were civilians down here...” Kolby glanced over to a wooden table in the corner and spotted a disc spinning on a record player. Lifting the needle, the sound of commotion ceased.

“Oh, they are here, Commander!” he said, beckoning Kolby over. “Let us head to the chamber beyond, I think they are nearly finished...”

Gläsmann scurried over to the door surrounded by candles and as Kolby approached, he saw that names had been scratched into the wall. Barton. Dubbo. Endesha. Magnussen. There were dozens... and Kolby felt his blood run cold as Gläsmann smiled at him, opening a slat on the door and peering inside.

“Is unfortunate we have to skip the pleasantries and get straight to business, Commander,” Gläsmann said. “We had hoped to delay you a little longer, and that you would have brought your squad with you. But no matter, the leader of the valiant Sky Marshals will do.”

Kolby raised his rifle once again, aiming squarely at Gläsmann’s head. “What the hell have you done?”

“They bade me offer you the chance to surrender.” Gläsmann did not turn to face him, but continued eagerly staring at the process of... whatever was happening within.

“Those mutant cultist freaks actually made a deal with you?”

“They came here. Told me that what they truly seek is to be unbound from our mortal concepts of good and evil, of laws and morals. The Old Ones, their technology, will lead the Covenant to their third life—as man, as mutant, and as what comes next when their wisdom teaches us all new ways to revel in this great journey. Their grace will smother the Earth, and with the star-zeppelin complete they will go on to affect universal change in time. This kindness, to join them, they offer.”

Kolby pressed the barrel of his rifle to the back of Gläsmann’s head. “Do you even hear yourself? How the hell did they turn you with talk like that?”

Gläsmann remained unfazed. “We have been here for a long, long time, Commander. We offered no resistance when they came, and their Prophets offered us salvation. If you wish to see the choice the others made, simply step into the radiation chamber. They’re all in there. Waiting.”

“And you?”

“They knew they would be followed here and needed someone to delay your progress.” He turned now, holding out his hands to Kolby. “But we can end this now. We shall step into the chamber together, join the others, and begin the great journey.”

In all his years of fighting, Kolby had seen much of what the worst of humanity had to offer—both in the form of the
Covenant’s cultists and mutated abominations and the Unified Nations Security Confederation itself. It had almost seemed easy to go numb to it all as the world descended into base depravities in the name of long-dead generals and Covenant dogma, but this... a new world of deeper, darker horrors waited just beyond those doors, and Kolby could stop them from opening.

Time was up. He had to return to his squad, resume the fight to secure the Perpetua, deliver a crushing final victory against the horror that had taken root here. But first, there was the matter of the unarmed monster before him—Henrik Gläsmann.

Kolby could gun him down now and be done with it, or leave the twisted scientist here—maroon him on Luna to live out whatever remained of his life with no hope of escape. He wondered which would be more just, but like “civilian” the word “justice” had long faded out of use.

SHOULD COMMANDER KOLBY...

A) Leave Gläsmann

OR

B) Execute Gläsmann


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