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The Life of Ryau 'Cinotee: Redux Act I Pt 9

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The Hunt

Twenty-Fourth Solar Cycle, 146 Cycles: 9th Age of Reclamation [August 23, 2552: 1759]
Outskirts of New Alexandria, Reach
SpecOps Major Ryau 'Cinotee


After being picked up from the rooftop in New Alexandria they were flown to the Leveling Strength and were able to rest and rearm for the night. Almost immediately they were sent out in the morning to the top of a mountain outside the city.


Ryau stood beside Naki on top of the sparsely forested plateau at near the summit. The team had been assigned to provide protection to an engineering team as they assembled a communications jammer. At first thought, he felt that a team out in the mountains would not warrant a SpecOps team keeping watch, except when he considered that there may be some refugees or Human soldiers that fled the chaos below taking shelter in the forests.


Naki, being the local expert on nearly everything, kept watch over the teams of Unggoy and Huragok to be sure it was assembled correctly. In addition to this jammer, and the ring that surrounded the city, there were many more sprinkled across the downtown area. Naki glanced around and her mandibles formed a frown.


Something wrong, Naki?” Ryau asked.


Well it's just that we are saturating the area in communication jammers. Only a few of these placed around the city should be enough to block communications over the entire area.” She said, she waved her hand across the view. “Instead, we have clusters of five located in three sectors, inside the ring we are assembling now.”


That is strange... “ Ryau said. “Something doesn’t feel right.”


No, its not right.” She turned around and looked towards him. “Whatever it is, I’m glad we are not going back down there.”


Agreed.” Ryau let his face form a rough smile. Beside them, the jammer hummed to life and readouts scrolled across its many interfaces. Their ACIs flashed momentarily as the device interfered with the signals.


I should go let K`an know they’ve finished.” Naki said.


Alright, I’ll wait here.” Ryau walked over to a cluster of empty crates and took a seat. He glanced down at the Device that rested on his arm. He had taken the thing off the night after he had awoken in this new body, it had left two purple bruises on his underarm. Ryau pressed the release and it popped free. The skin beneath was pale grey, no spots from the device. He was distracted as he heard K`an call his name. “What is it?” He called back.


Pull out some rations for the lance. Naki, go inform the others to feel free to eat their own rations.”


Ryau sighed and reassembled the forearm piece and the Device hissed as it sealed against his skin. He stood up and walked over to the Spirit they had rode. Ryau pulled open one of the small cargo holds and retrieved a case of field rations. He drug it out and set it down between everyone.


Sig walked over and took his and Ryau grabbed two for him and Naki. He walked over and handed it to her. Ryau removed activated the meal’s heater and the small battery in the case warmed up the food that sat inside. The indicator light turned and Ryau pried the lid open. A puff of condensation rose off the rations and Ryau found he had mutna beef and morla rolls. Where as a Human MRE was a series of vitamin bars and nutritional supplements, the Covenant ration packs were filled with preserved meats and breads that were somehow kept fresh.

Ryau munched on the food and waited for K`an to return to tell them they were going  back to the ship. However K`an came back over. “We need to get going, come on.” He nodded towards the Spirit.


Ryau and Naki stood up and followed Sig aboard. There was a bit of commotion outside and K`an came in and closed the drop bay doors without their pilot. “What's going on?” Ryau asked.


Do not be bothered by it.” K`an said and started the Spirit's main engines. “It was just a simple act of insubordination.” The Spirit lurched as K`an took off and headed down the side of the mountain.


No, not that.” Ryau said. He assumed that something must have happened between K`an and the pilot for some reason. “What are we doing? We're going towards the city, not the camp.”


K`an didn't say anything for a few moments, thinking over what he was going to say. “There was a Demon sighted within the city. We have been tasked with defeating it.” The Spirit leveled out and no one said anything. To Ryau, he understood what was going to happen, he had been having memories of his past come back to him ever since he and Naki had reunited. He just hoped that this group wasn't one that the Spartan kills. K`an continued, “I'm sorry... I do not know how you all feel about this task.”


Ryau swallowed. “We just need to get it done.”


Do you honestly understand what must be done?” K`an asked.


Yes, I do.” Ryau nodded. More than you know...” He thought as he sighed.


Alright, hold on.” K`an warned. Ryau gripped a hand rail on the ceiling and the Spirit dropped sharply again. He had to use his leg to hold himself in place as the Spirit neared a vertical free fall. K`an, who was unfazed by their angle of descent, suddenly pulled the craft upwards and narrowly avoided the jungle of skyscrapers below.


The Spirit vibrated from their speed as Ryau pulled himself out of the cargo pod he had been thrown in by K`an's maneuvering. “What the fuck, K`an....” He grumbled, but no one hear him. He stood up and walked over to K`an. The control panel was flashing red and speed warnings flashed across the screen, K`an casually dismissed them with a wave. Their waypoint was substantially closer than it was before the drop.


The air breaks were thrown and the reverse thrusters activated. Ryau was once again thrown, this time face first into the wall besides the communications station. K`an paid no attention to Ryau's adventures in perpetual motion.


K`an reached over Ryau to activate the Spirits comms. “This is Special Operations team, Far Beyond Provocation. We need multiple transports of heavy reinforcements to head to inner city Jammer three. Is anyone close?”


Ryau chose to just stay where he was and listen to what was happening over the radio. A response came quickly. This is Phantom two-two-Veko Belonging to the Guiding Light. I am currently holding a pair of Mgalekgolo. We are available for deployment.” Another transport answered K`an.


K`an glanced around the controls. “Remain on standby for now.”


Understood. Standing by.” Two-Two-Veko responded. We will remain on your tail.”


The Spirit banked sharply around a building, passing only a meter from its glass skin. From Ryau's position on the floor, he had a good view of the Spirit's control screens, though the view was mirrored. Their waypoint rested above a building with an illuminated blue medical symbol. He partially recognized it as the New Alexandria Medical Center.


Though before they moved to the landing pad, the Phantom that was following them peeled off. Far beyond Provocation. This is Two-two-Veko. We have received new orders to reinforce inner city jammer one.” The pilot said.


Before K`an could respond, command came over all channels. All lances. The Demon sighting has been confirmed. Jammer four has been destroyed. Strengthen all defenses.”


Which jammer is it heading to?” We will respond.” K`an asked.


Unknown. Tracking has been thrown off by inclement weather. All jammers are being assaulted by Human forces.” Command said.


Which is in the highest need of aid?” K`an asked.


Another voice came over the radio. “Far Beyond Provocation, you are to continue to provide support to Ultra ‘Valnsee at jammer three. Your orders have not changed.”


Very well.” K`an sighed.


Suddenly the Spirit vibrated as a CCS-Class Battlecruiser rumbled above. Its repulsor engines causing everything below to shake. Ryau could see it stop out over the city. K`an stopped the Spirit over the landing pad of the hospital. Ultra 'Valnsee's Phantom was lifting off from the rooftop. Sitting on the adjacent pad, was a Falcon, two dead Army troopers were slumped over the side turrets.

Far Beyond Provocation, this is Ultra ‘Valnsee.  We are moving to secure the lobby and I have sent my Sangheili Rangers forward to deal with the Demon.” The Ultra said over the radioStandby until we need you.”


Understood”  K`an replied. He rolled his eyes, thinking he was the only one in the cockpit. They were hovering near the glass skybridge that connected two of the hospital buildings. The jammer had been placed at the end of the bridge.


To Ryau, the position of the jammer was not a good one, it could easily be accessed by anyone in the other tower. That was probably how the Army troopers had managed to get there behind the Jiralhanae that had formerly been guarding it, and did a terrible job.


The Spirit's cameras peered into the skybridge, they could see the bodies of the Jiralhanae along the path. “Ultra ‘Valnsee, this is Far Beyond Provocation. I have a current view of what is going on the pathway to where the jammer is.  I will keep you updated.” K`an said.


Attention. Jammer three has been destroyed.” Command announced.


Ryau watched the Rangers jump into the massive skybridge. They quickly engaged the Spartan that walked out of the cover where the jammer had been placed. Bullets and plasma went back and forth, the Rangers attempting to flank the Spartan with their jump packs. Unfortunately, as Ryau expected, the Spartan cut down all the Sangheili.


Ultra, the Demon has slain the Rangers.  He is going towards the lobby.” K`an urgently warned the Ultra. The Spartan looted the corpses for grenades and a replacement for the Plasma pistol they were carrying on their hip. Then they continued for the lobby.


Far Beyond Provocation, you're clear for entry!” The Ultra shouted. The Demon-” There was a gargling noise before the Ultras headset cut off automatically.


Ryau decided to sit up finally, only at that moment K`an also decided to suddenly start the Spirit up at full speed. Ryau slid across the floor and hit the back plate again.


Command, the Demon has made it past Ultra 'Valnsee and has escaped the area.” K`an said.


Understood. Current sightings place it heading for jammer one. Proceed at you digression.Command reported.


K`an frowned. “Very well.” He cut the link and glanced down the left prong. “Cinotee! Come here.”


Ryau pushed himself with his legs and slid back between the communications panel and the pilot's seat. He looked up at K`an from the floor. “What is it?”


K`an's head shot around and down towards the floor. He sighed and looked back at the control screen. His sigh was that kind someone makes when in total disbelief. He stared at the screen for a moment. “Whenever you decide to rejoin me from the floor, we need to re-evaluate our situation.”


Ryau pulled himself up with both seats and sat down at the communications station. “Alright. What is it?”


The plan has changed. The Demon got through the jammer.” K`an paused as he concentrated on flying the Spirit around a series of buildings.


So I heard.” Ryau said.


We need to think about how to go about this. I will not have us just running blindly into a building after the Human. Do you still have a record of the city layout?” K`an asked. “The one from when we were on the ground?”


There are some Beam rifles in the Spirit's field armory. I did not keep the map.” Ryau said. “Though we could set up on top of a building.” He was thinking of some ways they can stay out of conflict with the Spartan but still seem like they were in combat.


I mean to ask, how is your memory. Do you remember that Human tower? SinoViet, was what it was called?”


Oh, yes. The one with the green chevron over there.” Ryau pointed at the building on the screen.


Very good. I want you to play navigator, find a building overlooking the landing station of the building where jammer one is located.” K`an said.


Ryau nodded and sat down at the communications station and looked over the controls. Reading their labels, Ryau pressed a few buttons and the communications station switched over to a navigator's seat. He used the various cameras to scan the buildings ahead of them. Most were so tall that their rooftops could only see part of the club's exterior pads. Ryau sighed, “There are plenty of buildings in the area, but they're too tall to see the inside of the landing area,”


Find me one, Cinotee.” K`an ordered.


Ryau went back to work, and as the Spirit rounded a corner, a smaller building sat in a perfect position overlooking the club's landing pads. Well that's perfect. Hell, it's even lit up purple.” Ryau thought to himself with a slight chuckle. “Got one.” Ryau said to K`an and placed a waypoint on the building. “Looks like we'll be just at home there.”


Not likely. If there's no women, it's not my home.” K`an smirked. “Unless you want to share.” That last part was quietly said with a laugh.


What was that?” Ryau didn't think that he heard the last part right.


I said not likely.” K`an said, suppressing a small grin. The Spirit suddenly turned sharply towards the waypoint. They drifted over the building's rooftop and settled down over its extended landing pad. “Cinotee, grab me one of those rifles and a viewing set.” K`an barked and stood out of the seat. “Sig, you take the helm of the Spirit and remain nearby.”


Ryau walked over to the Field Armory and pulled the Beam rifle free, the viewing set that was in the box was the kind designed to fit over a Kig 'Yar's head. Ryau tossed that over his shoulder and found a universal design sitting underneath a set of replacement Unggoy breathing masks. Behind him, the left prong's door opened and wind and rain blew inside.


Cinotee, you're with me. Lets go!” K`an waited by the open hatch.


Ryau passed K`an the Beam rifle and hopped down onto the illuminated floor. K`an dropped down behind him and Ryau moved to the ledge. “Here we are, good sight lines to the doorway and rest of the deck.”


Yes...” K`an agreed for once. “Now lets get set up.” The two moved down a floor to the balcony that had the best vantage point. K`an and Ryau knelt down at the edge and set up their position. The viewing set had a small deplorable stand to steady it. It was supported by an energy field and a small plate descended. Ryau guessed the magnetic fields acted as some sort of spring. Using his finger, he pulled the plate of metal back until it was perpendicular with the viewing set. He released it and it bounced back, but instead of a twang, there was a strange wobbly sound. Ryau looked up to see if K`an had noticed, but the Major was too busy making sure the Beam rifle was in working order.


K`an looked up. “Have you ever used one of the viewing sets before?”


Yes I have. But they are not commonly used since the Kig 'Yar visors do it all at once. Sangheili sniper teams are rare on the battlefield.” Ryau looked the device over once more. While it was true he had received some minor training it its use while in Varo, they didn't go over much.


"I agree, the Sangheili would rather be in the fray than to sit and wait.” K`an sighed and dropped down onto his belly. “That is one thing I do not like about us as a species. There is a high percentage in the population that work on a one track system.”


Ryau moved down next to K`an. Like the conversations they had earlier, Ryau enjoyed the conversations with actual Sangheili about themselves. “Could you explain? He asked.


Oh so you are willing to talk on such manners?” K`an asked as he looked down at the building below.


"We touched on it before...” Ryau said. “But Sig threatened to kick us down the stairs.”


Yeah, he gets his panties in a bunch whenever politics are brought up.” K`an chuckled.


Why's that?” Ryau asked, also slightly confused with the phrasing.


His father is a politician, I don't know, I didn't meet the guy. D`rok would have known...” K`an trailed off. “Anyway, what was your question?”


Well, explain what you meant earlier.” Ryau glanced down the viewing set at the balcony.


Well…” K`an started. "I think it festers from the extreme religion that runs the entire Covenant. We as a race- Er, all of the races together are raised to follow and not to think."


Possibly, but there are always the ones that don’t follow the flow.” Ryau said. “Like you.”


Maybe a part of it is that most of the military is made up of youthful individuals.” K`an admitted. “It seems that the ones who are free thinkers have too high of power to be so. Somewhat dealing with heightened benefits. Do you think?”


I think it's the opposite of that, the free thinkers don't have any power to try and push some of the changes. Like what happened when Zelso changed some of the laws which in turn altered some traditions.” Ryau suggested.


Interesting...” K`an paused to think. “Then I now think it is a mix of both of our beliefs. It makes sense.” He shifted his stance and aimed around. “Apologies for talking so much on these social topics.”


Its f-” Ryau's scanning spotted a Falcon accelerating towards the Vyrant Telecom tower. “K`an, here it comes.” He tagged the Falcon with the viewing set. It should have been pinged to K`an scope and Assisted Combat Interface.


I see it,” K`an said.


The Falcon lowered and opened fire on the Covenant forces that patrolled the balcony. The VTOLs guns tore the Unggoy and Kig `Yar to pieces, leaving nothing alive. It settled on one of the pads and the Spartan pulled itself out of the cockpit and hurried into the club. Ryau sent a status ping over the radio to the forces inside. He got a single ping, and then a constant tone.


That was him.” K`an muttered. “We will wait for him to exit the building. I have a very well placed shot. Is there an open comlink to the forces inside?”


No, it seems they've gone dark since the Spartan entered. Either they're dead, of those Jiralhanae don't know how to operate their radios.” Ryau said.


Both are equally possible, but I do not find myself surprised if it is the former.” K`an grumbled. The command channel buzzed with an alert that the jammer had been destroyed. Suddenly the CCS-Class Battlecruisers that had positioned themselves over the city activated their glassing beams. The sky lit up and the ground shook.

The hell!?” Ryau flipped over on his shoulder. The roar of plasma scorching the planet surface shattered the glass on the rooftop. “They've started glassing.”


Pay attention, Ryau! Its coming out soon.” K`an called to bring Ryau back to his task.


Ryau fumbled with his viewing set as a wave of static passed over them. He shoved the thought of the glassing out of his head and concentrated. The doors down below opened and he saw the foot of the Spartan step into the threshold. Only the two Sangheili didn't get a chance for the shot, their shields were peppered by bullets from behind. Ryau jumped up and leapt for cover behind the building. K`an turned around and fired his Beam rifle at the Army troopers that had come out of the roof access hatch.


K`an's shields burst and several bullets ricocheted off his armor. “K`an!” Ryau called and returned fire with his Needle rifle. “Get over here!”


Ryau provided suppressive fire and K`an launched himself into movement. One of the Troopers scored a lucky shot with their DMR and nailed K`an just above his right upper knee. His leg gave out as he about to pass behind the wall.


MotherFucker!” K`an shouted. Ryau reached out and grabbed K`an by the lip of his shield generator. He pulled K`an far enough behind the wall that they would have a few moments of safety. K`an called for Sig to pick them up as soon as possible. “Ryau! Get us some ground.” He struggled to get the Plasma pistol free from its clamp on his hip.


I'm working on it!” Ryau shouted back. He was keeping the Humans suppressed as he pulled K`an along the floor, there wasn't much he could do. They didn't make it that far before Ryau had to reload, giving an opening for the Humans to move in. K`an began to fire with his Plasma pistol and sent a volley of green plasma towards the Troopers.


Ryau drug K`an back around the other corner, firing his Needle rifle one handed. Out of nowhere, the whine of engines grew louder and suddenly the building shook. The Humans were thrown off the rooftop, blood and body parts were behind them. One of the prongs from a Spirit shot by, trailing sparks and bits of metal.


The Spirit circled around in front of them and lowered its hatch for them to board. Ryau pushed K`an onto the hatch and then hopped on himself. He had to pull him further into the troop bay. The hatch closed behind him and Ryau lifted K`an up and put him in one of the crash seats.


Get us out of here, Sig.” Ryau easily transitioned into command mode and began to take control of the situation. . He gripped one of the handholds as the Spirit accelerated away from the site. “Command, this is Far Beyond Provocation. We were unable to kill the Sp-Demon. We were ambushed by...Vermin as we were about to take the shot.” Ryau glanced down at K`an's name. “Retmmaree is injured and we are heading back to the Leveling Strength.” He clicked off the receiver.


The response didn't come for a few moments. Understood. This is Communications officer 'Sannwikhee. Report has been logged. S-”


'Sannwikhee was cut off by the command line. All forces are to evacuate the city. You have five unites to to vacate the area.”


Overhead, a trio of Battlecruisers rumbled into position. “Shit. You heard them, Sig. Get us out of the city.” Ryau knelt down to look at K`an's wound. The bullet had passed through the leg, shattering the bone.


Only five minutes?” K`an cringed, the puddle of blood on the floor widened slightly. “That is hardly enough time to get out of the city.”


Ryau sighed and pulled a medical kit out of one of the storage compartments. “Its plenty of time, K`an.” he assured him. “Do you want me to stop the bleeding?”


Only if you promise not to flop around the cabin, like you did earlier.” K`an chuckled darkly.


Well Sig is driving now, he's much smoother.” Ryau opened the medical kit and looked through the medical kit and found one of the gel pads that he had seen in Varo. He pulled out a specialized tool that glowed blue when it was turned on. If he remembered correctly, it was something that would cut through the bodysuit, but not the skin.


Sometimes comfort is not always the ideal tactic.” K`an said.


And sometimes we want to get there alive.” Ryau retorted and removed the armor pieces on K`an’s leg. He cut away the body suit at the thigh and second ankle, then placed a dab of antiseptic and a pain killing paste over the wound.


K`an winced for a second, but then grinned and rolled his eyes. “Whatever Cinotee, I'm an excellent pilot.”


If you say so.” Ryau said.


Hey, don't be so quick to judge. I have placed first in a handful of prestigious completions of aerial skill.”


Bullshit.” Ryau pulled the leg brace out and looked it over. It attached at two ends of the leg and had a thick plastic film between the alloy clamps. Glancing at the instructions, he gripped the two halves and easily bent them to fit the natural bend of K`an's leg.


K`an laughed “Yeah, you're right. That would be something would it not.”


I guess, but I really don't peg you as the pilot type.” Ryau shrugged. He clamped the brace to the leg, and sealed the other side of the plastic. As he pressed the activation button, the clamps shrunk to fit and created a seal between the metal and K`an's skin. An electrical charge went through the bend and made it stiff. An few moments later the space between the skin and the film filled with a healing gel. All appeared to be working.


Well, as a child once told me... If you say so.” Ryau frowned as K`an burst out in laughter, which quickly died down as he winced from the pain. “Ryau, I like you. Can I buy you a drink?”


Of course.” Ryau chuckled to himself. “Well, I'm done here, don't fuck it up, or I'll knock you on your ass like I did D`rok.”


K`an laughed and shook his head in disbelief. “I'll have to hear that story later.” He got quiet for a second. “Much later.”


Ryau stood up and gave K`an a pat on the shoulder. He walked into the cock-pit to check on Naki and Sig. Sig was concentrating on the controls, and getting out of the city.


What happened?” Sig asked, glancing over a bit.


We were ambushed before we could fire on the...Demon. K`an was shot in the leg, but he is doing alright.” Ryau said.


I would surely hope so, it would be devastating if we lost him.” Sig said in the most serious voice Ryau had heard anyone use while talking about K`an.


That it would be.” Ryau nodded and walked on to the other prong to check on Naki.


She was at the far end of the troop bay with data-pads strewn about. “Alright, Vinika. I got your data here. I'll try to get to your site soon.” She spoke into a headset. “Now what kind of site is this?” Ryau knocked on the bulkhead to alert Naki to his presence. “Oh, hold on Vinika, I'll have to get back to you.... Yes I will as soon as I can.” She took off the headset and looked up to Ryau with a slight smile.


Ryau smiled back and pointed back towards the other prong. “K`an got shot on the leg. He's patched up, but can you go take a look at it? I think I got it on right but I've never used one of those before.”


Oh,” she frowned. “Are you okay?” Naki looked around at Ryau's form.


Yeah, I made it through just fine.” Ryau twisted his torso to prove to her that all was fine.


Okay, good. I'll go check your handy work.” Naki stood and went to check on K`an's injuries.


Ryau sighed and sat down in one of the crash seats. He waited there as they ascended into the upper atmosphere to dock with the DDS-Class Carrier they had launched from a few days earlier. Fighting his fellow Humans was hard enough, but now it was the planet he had regarded as home for most of his life. He knew there was nothing he could do to stop it, just do whatever he was told and hope he didn't do something wrong to make this all for nothing.

Well this one was fun, but its not fully edited. That is what is holding some back, but as my editor said; post it anyway. Dont want you all waiting. 

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