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Minas: Difference between revisions
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As they continued on, Minas contacted Bomarus back at the Phantoms, informing him to be wary as they now knew there were enemies aboard and telling him to prepare for a swift extraction. Fifteen Banished warriors had been lost in the firefight, mostly Kig-Yar and Unggoy. Leaving the arcade, the group came to a walkway that ended in three doorways. Choros led them through the rightmost door into a narrow transparent hallway suspended within the largest interior chamber yet. As they filed through the dimly-lit corridor, Minas could make out innumerable receptacles sitting in the gloomy depths below. They held specimens that would have been used to [[Conservation Measure|reseed]] worlds with life after the [[Halo Array]]'s [[Great Purification|activation]]. Taken aback by the shear magnificence and power of the Forerunners and their technology, Minas admitted to himself that it was no wonder the Covenant had considered them gods. The corridor terminated at a well-lit circular balcony that held a small lift leading to the Keyship's drive controls—and the Adytum—suspended in the darkness hundreds of meters above them. Examining the lift platform, Minas realized that it was far too small to transport their entire force in a single trip, meaning that they would need to split up. Zeretus observed that the top of the lift would make for a perfect ambush location, with the Covenant loyalists surely knowing that the entire Banished force could not fit on the lift. Minas agreed but knew that they had no other choice. His team would ascend first and send the lift back for the next team when they knew the upper platform was clear.{{Ref/Reuse|Sacrifice}} | As they continued on, Minas contacted Bomarus back at the Phantoms, informing him to be wary as they now knew there were enemies aboard and telling him to prepare for a swift extraction. Fifteen Banished warriors had been lost in the firefight, mostly Kig-Yar and Unggoy. Leaving the arcade, the group came to a walkway that ended in three doorways. Choros led them through the rightmost door into a narrow transparent hallway suspended within the largest interior chamber yet. As they filed through the dimly-lit corridor, Minas could make out innumerable receptacles sitting in the gloomy depths below. They held specimens that would have been used to [[Conservation Measure|reseed]] worlds with life after the [[Halo Array]]'s [[Great Purification|activation]]. Taken aback by the shear magnificence and power of the Forerunners and their technology, Minas admitted to himself that it was no wonder the Covenant had considered them gods. The corridor terminated at a well-lit circular balcony that held a small lift leading to the Keyship's drive controls—and the Adytum—suspended in the darkness hundreds of meters above them. Examining the lift platform, Minas realized that it was far too small to transport their entire force in a single trip, meaning that they would need to split up. Zeretus observed that the top of the lift would make for a perfect ambush location, with the Covenant loyalists surely knowing that the entire Banished force could not fit on the lift. Minas agreed but knew that they had no other choice. His team would ascend first and send the lift back for the next team when they knew the upper platform was clear.{{Ref/Reuse|Sacrifice}} | ||
Minas, Choros, and the remainder of his team stepped onto the lift and Itka activated its anti-gravity systems. As the platform gently accelerated upwards, Minas put a hand on Choros's shoulder saying, "We do this together, brother." His captain responded with a confident "Together." Minas resolved himself, knowing that if they died, it would be for a greater purpose. Before the lift came to a stop, his remaining warriors readied themselves to launch a fusillade of [[ | Minas, Choros, and the remainder of his team stepped onto the lift and Itka activated its anti-gravity systems. As the platform gently accelerated upwards, Minas put a hand on Choros's shoulder saying, "We do this together, brother." His captain responded with a confident "Together." Minas resolved himself, knowing that if they died, it would be for a greater purpose. Before the lift came to a stop, his remaining warriors readied themselves to launch a fusillade of [[Grenflekt Workshop Spiker|spikes]] and plasma bolts at whatever enemies surely awaited them. However, they only found an empty balcony much like the one they had just left. A single sealed door sat on the far wall of the balcony. The strike team stepped off of the lift and it immediately began its trip back to the lower balcony. Minas considered the possibility that they had destroyed all of the remaining Covenant during their skirmish in the arcade. Choros informed them that the sealed door led to the Adytum, their destination. Itka worked the door controls and the team took position, preparing for the ambush that surely must be waiting for them inside the last chamber.{{Ref/Reuse|Sacrifice}} | ||
In a few seconds, the door slid open to reveal a room equally devoid of Covenant. The well-lit spherical chamber was filled by tiered platforms lining its rounded walls. Each platform held terminals presumably used to perform all manner of duties. At the center of the room was the Adytum, an oblong bronze monolith that fell just short of touching both the floor and ceiling. Terminals and interfaces covered its exterior, accessible from the platforms resting along the room's walls. Choros and Itka immediately began the process of extracting the shards they sought from within the Adytum. Minas was beginning to believe that the threat had actually passed when the distinctive sound of [[impulse drive]]s filled the room. Peering outside, the Chieftain was shocked to see two Covenant [[Type-52 Phantom|Phantom]] dropships approaching their position. Okro 'Vagaduun, nearing the top of the lift with his team, noticed it too and contacted Minas, assuring him that they would be there to assist. As the two dropships stopped at the platform and began offloading Jiralhanae and Kig-Yar troops, Minas contacted Zeretus and hold him to stay where he was and secure the bottom of the lift so that they could escape swiftly. Two more Phantoms could be seen approaching the platform as well. He then told Choros to hurry Itka along with the extraction of the crystal shards because they had Covenant forces incoming. Meanwhile, Minas had the rest of his team prepare to defend the chamber.{{Ref/Reuse|Sacrifice}} | In a few seconds, the door slid open to reveal a room equally devoid of Covenant. The well-lit spherical chamber was filled by tiered platforms lining its rounded walls. Each platform held terminals presumably used to perform all manner of duties. At the center of the room was the Adytum, an oblong bronze monolith that fell just short of touching both the floor and ceiling. Terminals and interfaces covered its exterior, accessible from the platforms resting along the room's walls. Choros and Itka immediately began the process of extracting the shards they sought from within the Adytum. Minas was beginning to believe that the threat had actually passed when the distinctive sound of [[impulse drive]]s filled the room. Peering outside, the Chieftain was shocked to see two Covenant [[Type-52 Phantom|Phantom]] dropships approaching their position. Okro 'Vagaduun, nearing the top of the lift with his team, noticed it too and contacted Minas, assuring him that they would be there to assist. As the two dropships stopped at the platform and began offloading Jiralhanae and Kig-Yar troops, Minas contacted Zeretus and hold him to stay where he was and secure the bottom of the lift so that they could escape swiftly. Two more Phantoms could be seen approaching the platform as well. He then told Choros to hurry Itka along with the extraction of the crystal shards because they had Covenant forces incoming. Meanwhile, Minas had the rest of his team prepare to defend the chamber.{{Ref/Reuse|Sacrifice}} | ||
The first of the Covenant to enter the room was a team of Kig-Yar. Before they could process what they were seeing in the room, they were all cut down by a Banished barrage. Infuriated by the violent attack, the Covenant Jiralhanae charged into the room. The first few were easily dealt with, but as more and more streamed into the room it started to look bleak for Minas and his crew. Three Banished Jiralhanae dropped after being pierced by superheated spikes while two of the enemies lunged at Minas himself. Too close to use his pulse carbine efficiently, he smashed the weapon into the face of the first Jiralhanae, irreparably crumpling both the rifle and the head of the assailant. Moving around his fallen companion, the second attacker found Minas's shoulder lowered and forcibly planted into his midsection. The Chieftain could feel some of his attacker's bones breaking as he lifted him into the air and forced the twin bayonets of the Covenant soldier's own [[ | The first of the Covenant to enter the room was a team of Kig-Yar. Before they could process what they were seeing in the room, they were all cut down by a Banished barrage. Infuriated by the violent attack, the Covenant Jiralhanae charged into the room. The first few were easily dealt with, but as more and more streamed into the room it started to look bleak for Minas and his crew. Three Banished Jiralhanae dropped after being pierced by superheated spikes while two of the enemies lunged at Minas himself. Too close to use his pulse carbine efficiently, he smashed the weapon into the face of the first Jiralhanae, irreparably crumpling both the rifle and the head of the assailant. Moving around his fallen companion, the second attacker found Minas's shoulder lowered and forcibly planted into his midsection. The Chieftain could feel some of his attacker's bones breaking as he lifted him into the air and forced the twin bayonets of the Covenant soldier's own [[Grenflekt Workshop Spiker|spiker]] into his throat. With a kick, Minas sent the bloody and limp warrior tumbling to the ground. He retrieved a [[Type-25 Brute plasma rifle|plasma rifle]] from the floor and looked around to find that the fight within the Adytum chamber had slowed. He could only see two of his men still standing—[[Burekos]] and [[Sopruuz]]—and scavenging for weapons after the costly brawl. Minas could not see Choros or Itka in the room that was now filled with a haze of ballistic smoke and plasma gas.{{Ref/Reuse|Sacrifice}} | ||
He called out for Choros and eventually found him kneeling beside the body of Itka, who had been pinned to the wall by a series of hot spikes. The captain seemed to be paying homage to his lost companion. Minas was momentarily pleased that he would not have to perform a similar ritual for Choros. Looking out of the door at the lift platform, he could see 'Vagaduun and his Sangheili warriors battling the enemy Phantoms and ground troops. As he looked on, one of the dropships was struck by a [[Veporokk Workshop Ravager]] blast, sending the vehicle careening into the murky depths below. Choros came up to him carrying a small [[Onyx (material)|onyx]] box and informed him that they had successfully retrieved the crystal. He opened the case to reveal three shards, each glowing with an intense blue light. However, the captain was more focused on the bodies of his fallen companions that littered the floor. Hoping to gain some wisdom, Choros asked Minas what it was that Atriox had told him when they first met. The Chieftain relayed what Atriox had said, telling his captain that everyone should die on their own terms for something that they truly believe in. He contemplated this until Minas closed the onyx case and pushed it back to Choros, telling him that they must hurry back to the lift before the blademaster's forces were overrun. Choros handed the case back to Minas, insisting that he be the one to deliver it to Atriox. Then, they ventured out onto the platform to regroup with the Sangheili.{{Ref/Reuse|Sacrifice}} | He called out for Choros and eventually found him kneeling beside the body of Itka, who had been pinned to the wall by a series of hot spikes. The captain seemed to be paying homage to his lost companion. Minas was momentarily pleased that he would not have to perform a similar ritual for Choros. Looking out of the door at the lift platform, he could see 'Vagaduun and his Sangheili warriors battling the enemy Phantoms and ground troops. As he looked on, one of the dropships was struck by a [[Veporokk Workshop Ravager]] blast, sending the vehicle careening into the murky depths below. Choros came up to him carrying a small [[Onyx (material)|onyx]] box and informed him that they had successfully retrieved the crystal. He opened the case to reveal three shards, each glowing with an intense blue light. However, the captain was more focused on the bodies of his fallen companions that littered the floor. Hoping to gain some wisdom, Choros asked Minas what it was that Atriox had told him when they first met. The Chieftain relayed what Atriox had said, telling his captain that everyone should die on their own terms for something that they truly believe in. He contemplated this until Minas closed the onyx case and pushed it back to Choros, telling him that they must hurry back to the lift before the blademaster's forces were overrun. Choros handed the case back to Minas, insisting that he be the one to deliver it to Atriox. Then, they ventured out onto the platform to regroup with the Sangheili.{{Ref/Reuse|Sacrifice}} | ||