Halo: Revelations

“There are some things that you don’t want to do and you pledge to yourself that you won’t do, you forbid yourself, and then suddenly they happen all by themselves. You don’t even have time to think about them, and they don’t make it to the cognitive centers of the brain: they just happen and that’s it, and you’re left just watching yourself with surprise, and convincing yourself that it wasn’t your fault, it just happened all by itself.”--Dmitry Glukhovsky, Metro 2033
== Operation: Wolfsbane ==
The streets of Providencia were quiet. Moonlight lit the partially destroyed buildings of Old Town and the stunning architecture of New Concourse. It seemed as if after 20 years of constant infighting, it was over. The civil war that had engulfed Providencia and the entire planet of Grasp had seemingly ended suddenly and surprisingly. After all, this was the first night that hadn't been filled with gunfire and screaming.
The Citadel stands tall. For once, there is no police presence outside of the building. A lone car passed it, the flag of the Revolutionary's Republic hung outside of it's window. Then, it stopped. An armored figure exited the car and approached the gates, it's sheer strength able to simply pry them open. Another figure emerged from behind it, wearing almost identical armor.
"Don't do it. It's not worth it, son." The second figure said, aiming a modified pistol at the other. His armor had the emblem of the Providencia Special Forces and had severe damage.
"It must be done. Saul Rivera has cost this entire city thousands of lives!" The first figure shouted, turning around to see that the older man was armed.
"I know. I know." He fired at the younger man, causing him to collapse. "And I'm sorry."
"Koteb, it's done. Tell them that it's over. Tell them that the Wolf is dead."
"Copy that, Pierson. Exfil point is twenty meters from your position."
== The Range ==
FIVE YEARS PRIOR
"Hey, Pierson. Wake up."
A young marine sat just across from him, assault rifle in hand. He looked nervous, after all it was his first mission.
"We're about five minutes away from the Dionysus Mountain Range." He said shakily. "Do you think that the Covenant will, uh, be ready for our ambush?"
"I don't know, Jackson. Let's just hope they aren't." Pierson said, staring at Jackson.
"Fifteen seconds!" Shouted a marine.
"This is what we've trained for! Let's go!"
The pelican landed and the marines exited. They were instructed to wait for the bombardment to begin and then engage the Covenant that attempted to fall back to the higher part of the mountains. The look on each of their faces would be priceless.
"The bombardment has began! Brace yourselves! Here the fuckers come!" 
They watched as nothing came around that corner. Absolutely nothing. No marines, no Covenant forces.
"Hey, Pierson! Aren't they supposed to be-" Jackson was cut off. He had been shot in the throat by a needler. Pierson watched as he collapsed, clutching his throat.
"Shit! Jackson's down! Jackson's down! MEDIC!" Pierson saw the faint shape of a Scarab in the distance. All he could do was stare.
"SCARAB! Everybody get down! Get-" The Scarab fired and hit their position. Several marines were blown apart by the impact. Pierson stood up and rushed to Jackson's aid. "Come on, kid. You're gonna make it."
"This is Corporal Michael Pierson of the 57th Tactical Brigade. I need immediate medivac!" He looked rapidly around for approaching hostiles. "I've got multiple casualties and more wounded! 
"Copy that, Pierson. This is Red Talon. Approaching your position." The Scarab was then suddenly destroyed. "Hey, grab my hand."
Pierson and Jackson were pulled into a cave. "Who the hell are you?"
"Don't worry about it. Give me your friend. I'll see if I can help him." The man said. He grabbed bandages.
"Thank you."
"Don't worry about it. What were you doing up here in the range?"
"We were sent here to destroy a Covenant outpost."
"Covenant outpost? There is no...wait. The broadcasting station?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well," the main said while bandaging Jackson "about a year ago the Covenant set up a broadcasting station in these mountains to broadcast orders to their troops in the area." He finished wrapping Jackson's throat. "You see, we have a jamming system and MAC cannons on this mountain range. It's impossible for their ships or orders to come in from outer space."
"Just one more question. Did you destroy that Scarab?"
"Yeah." He pointed to a weapon in the corner. "PAC Cannon. Classified portable MAC Cannon that is able to be used on the field. Still packs a punch though." 
"Looks like your ride's here." He pointed to the pelican.
"Thank you."
The pelican pilot looked at him, motioning him to board it.
"Hey, Pierson. Remember me?"
"Koteb? Is that you? Holy shit, man." 
"Yeah, it's me. Where do you want to go?"
"Just get us out of here, Koteb."
== Concrete Jungle ==
=== FOUR YEARS AGO ===
"Mister Pierson. Wake up."
"Where am I? Who are you?"
"That does not matter. Just give us what you want and will guarantee your safety."
"Fuck you!" Pierson
"You were inducted into the ONI-Providencia Joint Task Force after the Dionysus Mountains incident. Is that correct?"
The interrogators then electrocuted him, causing large amounts of pain.
"Is that correct?"
"Y...yes."
"Your handler, Derrick Price, put you under the command of lieutenant Gary Anderson and Captain Jorge Paolo. Is that also correct?"
"Yes. That is correct."
"Your first operation was to assassinate revolutionary Marco Velasquez."
"Velasquez. That guy was a fucking ice cube."
ONE YEAR PRIOR
"Pierson. We've got something to do."
"What is it?" Pierson said tiredly.
"We've found out who's been running the revolutionaries' arms trade. His name is Marco Velasquez."
"When do I kill him?"
"Today."
A pelican landed behind them, Jackson stepping out.
"Jackson, you look like hammered shit!"
"This is Providencia, Pierson. Who's this asshole?"
"Agent Derrick Price, ONI. I'm Pierson's handler"
"Alright, mister shades. Come on Pierson, let's go."
The three entered a warthog and began to drive outside of the fort.
"When was the last time you've went into the field, Pierson?"
"Five months. I was badly wounded back in San Lopez, what about you Price?"
"Two months. I stopped going out after Garand."
The three stopped and allowed themselves to be picked up by a pelican.
"We're here."
The three were greeted by Lieutenant Anderson and Captain Paolo. The two covered in grime.
"Are you Pierson, Jackson, and Price?"
"Yes sir, lieutenant." Pierson shook the hand of Anderson. "It's an honor"
"You three are part of Alpha Squad. Head to that pelican over there. You'll be attacking Velasquez's property directly, also known as the "Concrete Jungle".
In five minutes, they were there. The building was new and was heavily guarded.
"All units, you are authorized to fire at confirmed hostiles. Follow HVT protocols."
"Alright, let's go!"
The three made their way throughout the property and found their way to Velasquez's position. Pierson quickly dispatched of him.
"Anderson, Velasquez is down. Proceeding to exfil."
== The Wolf ==
"Following the assassination of Velasquez, you and Jackson were sent to the Citadel to tell governor Saul Rivera that Velasquez was dead. You two joined the Hades Program and effectively became members of Providencia's Defense Force. The Human-Covenant War was nearly over, and you two were sent to return home in May of that year. What happened?"
"Rebels. They swarmed our position and nearly killed Rivera. The whole building was nearly leveled."
"How did they know? The meeting was highly classified and the Citadel had been evacuated five months prior. Only your squad knew that Rivera was still there."
"There was a fucking rat."
=== ONE YEAR AGO ===
"Hey, Pierson. After this meeting do you think this war will be over?"
"I don't know, Jackson. Velasquez was the leader of the drug and weapons trade. We don't know if he was also running the operation as a whole."
The vehicle pulled up behind the Citadel. Four men exited the rear enterance.
"¿Nombre?"
"Michael Pierson, Oficina de Inteligencia Naval. Estoy aquí para hablar con el gobernador Rivera."
"Bueno. Así es, Pierson."
The walls were lined with paintings of the previous leaders of Providencia. Some were great men, like Raul Mendoza, and some were tyrants, like Mark Lincoln. Rivera's office was lined with exquisite furniture."
"Señor Pierson, welcome to the Citadel. I believe that you are here to discuss Velasquez's death."
"Yes, Rivera. Velasquez is dead. Is this enough to end this revolution?"
"Well, Pierson. NO! Not even close, amigo. Even with him dead they will find another le-"
A bullet went through Rivera's shoulder. Gunfire erupted from outside. It was the rebels, once again attempting to assassinate Rivera.
"SHIT! Pierson, get Rivera. I'll cover you!"
"Come on, Rivera. I've got ya."
A grenade went through the window, exploding in front of Jackson. He was surely dead.
"NO! They killed Jackson! They fucking killed Jackson!"
Pierson rushed through the halls to get outside, handing him to the guards.
"Get him out of here. I'll cover you. The bastards are gonna pay."Wave after wave, Pierson held off the rebels as the pelicans arrived. Their weapons dealing the finishing blow.
"Pierson, this is Koteb. I'm coming down."
"They killed Jackson. He's gone, Koteb."
He boarded the pelican to see figures wandering out of the building. It was Jackson and two rebels.
"What the hell? Hold your fire! Jackson, how are you-"
"I'm sorry, Pierson. I really am. But," he pulled out a detonator "dictators shouldn't be able to live. Viva la revolución, Pierson."
Several bombs detonated around them, hidden in cars.
"Get us out of here now, Koteb!"
The two escaped to Fort Montagne, confused as to why Jackson would betray them.
"I saved his life. I taught him everything he knew in combat. FUCK!"
"Hey, Pierson. You might wanna see this."
A small tablet was handed to him. A video played showing Jackson and an unknown man.
"People of Providencia. The attack on the Citadel was your final warning. Saul Rivera has refused to end this war, and this is his punishment. If he does not stand down in the next twenty four hours, we will use the nuclear weapon we have acquired. I am the Wolf, and I am your savior. Viva la revolución."
"Son of a bitch".
== ASCENSION ==
"Jackson had threatened to commit war crimes. ONI had put him as their highest priority human target and evacuated Providencia. Operation Wolfsbane was now in effect. You were sent in to end this war by killing him."
"Jackson. The bastard should've died on the Dionysus."
=== FOUR MONTHS AGO ===
"One minute."
"Let's get that damn traitor."
The loudspeaker blared from the compound that the Wolf was held in.
"ASCENSIÓN. ASCENSIÓN. DIAZ-I SE PREPARA PARA EL LANZAMIENTO. TODO EL PERSONAL AUTORIZADO, POR FAVOR ENTRE AL BARCO."
"Actual, what the hell is DIAZ-I?"
"Actual, do you copy?"
"Shit. Looks like we're doing this on our own, Koteb."
"Copy that, Pierson."
The two would stealthily take down those who guarded the base, just like they had done in training. When they reached the central control room, they found out what DIAZ-I was.
"It's a damn frigate. UNSC in origin. Holy shit, Koteb."
"What?"
"It's the UNSC Ramon Diaz."
"Look. There's a nuclear weapon attached to it's frontside. Bastard's using it to launch the thing."
"Very good, Koteb."
They turned around to see Jackson. He wore much heavier armor and was armed with a modified shotgun.
"JACKSON!" Pierson fired his assault rifle at him to no effect. "You fucking traitor!"
"Pierson don't. He's wearing MK-I Warfighter Armor."
"Smart. You two are quite a rarity. Not many of you ONI grunts have too many scruples."
"What the hell did they do to you, Jackson?"
"Nothing. I saw what Rivera was doing, killing his own citizens based on suspicions alone. When you killed Velasquez, I volunteered."
"You are no better than him. You are threatening thousands of civilians because of ONE SINGLE MAN!"
"I never said that I had higher morals, Pierson. You and I, we ain't decent people. But these people, heh, they are."
"I ain't got too much to say no more."
Pierson fired a round at Jackson's head, breaking his visor.
"Son of a bitch!" Jackson began to fire randomly as he clutched his face. "I'll kill you!"
"No. I'll kill you." Koteb fired five bullets into Jackson's torso.
"You fool, Koteb. Verify Bravo."
"What the hell?"
The DIAZ-I began to take off. It seems that an AI had taken control of the ship and was following Jackson's every command.
"You just set yourself up for death, comrade. This is where I get off." Jackson used a grappling hook to attach himself to the ship.
"Samantha. Open the hangar. I'm coming in."
"Damn. Get to the pelican. Koteb, I'll fly."
"You sure?"
"Fucker deserves to die by my hands. He was saved by my hand and will die by my hand."
The pelican flew up to the DIAZ-I
"I see that you've learned to fly, Pierson. Quite a feat."
He fired at the ship, using it's modified weapons to quickly damage it
"Jackson, it ends here. You die by my hand."
"Michael Pierson, el infierno te espera."
"Give my regards to Velasquez if you get there first."
"Pierson! Remember how I said that I modified the pelican?"
"Yeah!"
"Say 'Verify Passcode'!"
"Verify Passcode!"
"Passcode verified. Enabling RANGE missiles."
The RANGE missiles did quick work of the DIAZ-I. It crashed into the vast desert.
"I ain't satisfied until I see a body."
The pelican landed just next to the wreckage. Several pelicans were inside with their crews still intact. They were preparing a counteroffensive. There sat Jackson in the captain's chair. He was still alive.
"It's over, Jackson."
"No...it's not. It doesn't end until Rivera's dead."
"Leave him, he'll die anyway."
"What the hell?"
A loud explosion erupted in the distance. A mushroom cloud could be seen. It wasn't main Providencia that had been destroyed. It had been Old Town, the only place that hadn't been destroyed.
"NO!" 
"See you in hell." 
"PELICAN!"
The dropship engaged the two and was able to evacuate Jackson. They then looked towards the smoldering city.
"We lost. They fucking destroyed it!"
"That was Old Town. We didn't evacuate it, with the scale of the city being so big. We didn't think that they would target it. Oh, god!"
"What do we do now, Pierson?"
"I don't know."
== Endgame ==
"This was it. Koteb intercepted some intel that Jackson was going on a suicide mission after the failure of DIAZ-I. He wanted to be a martyr to his people."
"So he showed up to the citadel with nothing but his armor."
"Exactly. Operation Wolfsbane was at it's end."
=== FINALE ===
==== Briefing ====
S̶S̶G̶T̶.̶ ̶M̶i̶c̶h̶a̶e̶l̶ Pierson a̶n̶d̶ ̶D̶m̶i̶t̶r̶i̶ ̶K̶o̶t̶e̶b̶ 
W̶h̶e̶r̶e̶a̶b̶o̶u̶t̶s̶ ̶a̶r̶e̶ ̶u̶n̶k̶n̶o̶w̶n̶,̶ ̶b̶u̶t̶ ̶e̶x̶p̶e̶c̶t̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶The Citadel, N̶e̶w̶ ̶C̶o̶u̶n̶c̶o̶u̶r̶s̶e̶
"We're officially AWOL"
"Is that so, Koteb?"
"Yeah."
"Drop me off here, Koteb. I'm going to finish this."
Pierson was dropped off right outside of the Citadel. The streets and building were damaged by constant battles. He waited as a vehicle pulled in front of the building.
"Here he is."
Jackson exited the car and approached the gates, his sheer strength able to simply pry them open. Pierson emerged from behind him, wearing almost identical armor.
"Don't do it. It's not worth it, son." Pierson said, aiming a modified pistol at the other. His armor had the emblem of the Providencia Special Forces and had severe damage.
"It must be done. Saul Rivera has cost this entire city thousands of lives!" Jackson shouted, turning around to see that the older man was armed.
"I know. I know." "I know. I know." He fired at the younger man, causing him to collapse. "And I'm sorry."
"Koteb, it's done. Tell them that it's over. Tell them that the Wolf is dead."
"Copy that, Pierson. Exfil point is twenty meters from your position."
"Rodger that, Koteb."
It was over. Jackson was dead and the war was over. He boarded the pelican.
"Let's go home."
They landed at Fort Montagne. It was strangely quiet and empty, odd for such an important facility.
"Pierson, Koteb. It's Price. You went against orders and killed Jackson on your own. As much as I appreciate that, it's against ONI's guidelines as well as the PSF's. I'm afraid to say that I will have to ask you to come with me."
"Are you serious? Pierson, he can-"
The two were apprehended by ONI agents and were knocked unconscious.
== HOMECOMING ==
"Thank you, Pierson. You are free to go."
"Really?"
"Yes, we've got all we need. Carver, disable his restraints."
Pierson wandered the halls of the ONI facility and came across Koteb.
"Did they interrogate you as well?"
"That isn't even fucking half of it."
"Let's go home. For real this time."
=== Present Day ===
M̶i̶c̶h̶a̶e̶l̶ ̶Pierson ̶Retired
̶M̶a̶y̶ ̶5̶t̶h̶,̶ ̶2560
Lotus Veteran's Hotel, N̶e̶w̶ ̶C̶o̶n̶c̶o̶u̶r̶s̶e̶,̶ ̶Providencia
Pierson would wake up from a deep sleep. His phone had began to rung many times.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Mike." It was Koteb's wife. "I have some bad news. Dmitri was killed by a drunk driver on Lincoln Street." She had began to break down in tears.
"Wait, Dmitri's dead?"
"Yes!"
"Jesus Christ. I'm so sorry. You know, me and him, we were like brothers. I-"
"His funeral will be at Rovers Veteran Cemetary at 3:00 P.M. I hope you'll be there."
"Of course I will, Kate. Listen, I'll come over one day and make sure you guys are okay."
Pierson would begin to cry as he hung up. It was his closest friend and had been so since the first grade. "Fuck, Dmitri."
The funeral was huge. Everyone who he had served with had shown up. Pierson was the first one to speak.
"Dmitri was like a brother to me. Ever since the first grade, we had been inseparable. He was a very brave man and one of the closest I had known in my forty seven years of life. Semper Fi, brother. Rest in piece."
Pierson wandered home after the funeral, seeming lost. His best friend had died, and he was alive. It was another revelation in his life, one of thousands.