After rushing out from the forest, the 10 came to face a Covenant army just surrounding the building. However, they are lucky they are out of viewing range - they have to take this advantage and use it wisely.

Soon the two snipers set themselves to monitor the enemy and their movements, complement, size, and anything useful information for the upcoming assault.

"We found the tower", Havoc spoke. "Yeah, we noticed", Kelly said back as the rest discuss a possible sneak attack or any breaching and entering strategies.

"We need to divide our resources", John stated, "If we go to the front and our team flanking the sides, we might be able to enter the tower and get the signal to the Pillar of Autumn".

"I don't think so", Arthur retaliate, "The Covenant probably already know we're heading to the tower. Enemies that are on high alert will be ready for anything that might enter the tower".

Arthur then looked to Cross and gave him an order, "Cross, recon drone".

Cross nods back as he took a small drone from his back and throws it in the air. Its wings spread out as Cross directs the drone's direction to the tower and the surrounding terrain. It is as silent as a bird flying through the wind. Many would mistake the drone for a small bird flying around.

Cross notifies the situation at the tower, "We got tangos surrounding the building. Heavy artillery, some infantry and a couple of turrets". He continues to fly the drone as the rest discuss a plan.

"Alright", Heav asked, "What now". Fred, John, and Arthur pondered for some time, trying to think of logical strategies that give them the best results - that being all of them alive and well and everyone back to the Pillar of Autumn.

Cross continued to circle the drone till he finds something interesting. There was an Elite, talking to two other Elites. He may not have known Covenant culture or military structure, but the Elite talking to the other Elites might be the CO of the army stationed on the planet.

Cross called out the group and tell them of his findings, "We've got a CO in the tower. Top floor".

"Okay", Arthur clapped his hands, "Looks like we've gotten ourselves a target". The others do agree on this, but the Spartans were a bit skeptical about this approach. However, they have to adapt to their assets and have to be vigilant, even in the most violent of times - by them.

Now set and stone on a plan, it's time to execute.

The Elite CO looked over the human monitors as his grunts were working hard and their best to understand and try to make the equipment work. It was a frustrating moment, but there are far worse moments than he could've been we're not for him taking control of the tower.

After some time, the Elite CO stood up and decided to check on his grunts, walking around them as he easily towers them. Most were working fine and as efficiently as possible, all but one.

The grunt was just lying there, motionless. The Elite barked at the grunt to wake up the sleeping Unggoy. Nothing. He then tapped the smaller one with his foot. Still nothing. Frustrated, he picked up the small one and was horrified to see a hole through the thick skull of the Unggoy's exo-skeleton.

"Say cheese"

It was a blink, nothing more. The Elite felt his heart stopped the moment something felt like piercing through his head. Soon blood began to drip down his head as he realizes too late and dropped to the cold floor.

"Headshot"

Death #10: Elite CO Headshot by a sniper.

The Unggoy inside were screaming because they witness the death of their commanding officer. Without anyone to command them, the army is at a significant disadvantage.

Soon some of Blue Team and some of Shadow Team attacked the surprised Covenant troopers, massacring them with the firepower they have acquired via their journey through the woods. Both Heav and Fred wielded the turrets from the fallen Warthogs as they cleave a portion of the Covenant army to corpses. The rest stayed back and continue to draw more to their side as the snipers picked off one by one.

Meanwhile, Kelly and Ronin took an alternate route, now that the Covenant forces are focusing on their teammates. It was rather interesting, to say the least. There were times they have to climb, but Kelly hasn't expected to climb vertically without any support. It is then that Shadow Team has more tech on their hands than it might seem.

"You guys have to climb like this", Kelly asked Ronin, which he turned in her direction and nodded. For the rest of the climb, there was just gunfire for their teammates and silence for them.

Back with the ground team, the Covenant forces manage to flank them at the back, forcing them to retreat into the tower and barricaded the entrance and anywhere the Covenant could potentially enter the tower.

"Geez", Heav panted a bit, "Those Covenants may be weaker, but they pack a helluva punch and annoyance".

"You've faced enemies like the Covenant", Fred asked. "Multiple", Havoc replied, "All as dangerous as these aliens".

"Really", Fred inquired, but before any more can be answered, Linda picks up on the comm-link, "Guys, we have enemy aircraft coming in fast".

"Alright", Arthur spoke up, "We better hope that signal goes to your ship. Or we'll be hammered shit before we even get off this planet".

Inside the deck of the tower, both Ronin and Kelly make their war into the control room, where they may be able to contact the Pillar of Autumn and get back. Upon reaching said control room, Ronin goes into action and starts messing up the wires and reconnecting them in intricate ways, in that so he could get the radio working - from when Shadow Team salvage what's left of the Pelican.

"Neat", Kelly commented as Ronin was close to finishing his work. It was a mess, but it works nonetheless with a few hits, he manages to get the radio working.

He was about to test out the signal, till Kelly walked up to him and gave him a chip. Ronin looked to the chip then Kelly, which she said, "John gave it to me. Says she may be important".

Ronin didn't think twice. He took the chip and plug it into the mainframe, where he was startled by Cortana. Just as the AI looked at the Shadow Team member, he almost draws out his pistol. Luckily, Kelly is quick to grab his arm, assuring him that Cortana is an ally.

"Are you sure your AI is safe", Ronin asked, doubting the Spartan's decision and even the trustworthiness of the AI. "Relax", Cortana assures him, "it's not like I wanted you guys dead. And besides, I was the one who found your team in the first place".

"I see", Ronin let go of the gun, as Kelly did the same with his arm, "For a second there I thought we were screwed".

Cortana merely giggles as she gladly inserts herself into the device and sends the message to the Pillar of Autumn.

"Ronin, Kelly", Arthur called on the radio. "Ronin here", Ronin answered, "What seems to be the problem", he asked.

"Oh nothing, just some bad guys trying to kill us. Just as usual", Arthur sarcastically replied, "Any luck on that signal". Ronin answers, "Already send a message, but it'll be a while till it reaches the ship".

"Good".

Arthur then asked Ronin, "Say, you mind checking that body upstairs", "sure thing", Ronin replied. While Kelly is watching the elevator and the radio station, Ronin goes inside the room, where the Elite CO was. He figured because of the Elite's size and body proportions - no small thanks to him fighting a bunch - he reasons that in case the CO may be alive, it would be difficult for it to exit the room where he supposedly died, but he needs to check it.

He carefully enters the room, ominously quiet, when they are supposed to be chittering and chatting grunts. The only sound he heard within the room was just the whimpering grunts - very unusual. Before long, he found no body and a hefty thump from behind. Ronin quickly rolls forward and turns to his back, gun firing till a bullet hits the energy shield.

The Elite then presented himself to the Shadow Team member as he nearly towered above Ronin.

"You think that shot would kill me, human", the Elite CO mocked at Ronin and the team, with the bullet still lodged into his head. "If I'm going to perish, then I shall perish with you, filthy human".

The Elite charged at Ronin with his energy sword, but the human thinks quickly on his feet and dodges to the side, and knocked the Elite aside.

Ronin spoke to the Elite as he is picking himself up, "If it's a fight you want", he took a sword from his back and form a defensive stance, "Then it's a fight you'll regret". After that, the two swordsmen charge at each other. Their very blades clashed with each convective slash.

Back in the room, Kelly was listening to the radio for any reply. It was then she hears the dreaded energy sword. Without a moment's notice, she dashes towards the area of the fighting. She is worried for Ronin as she thought he has no idea what he's about to deal with.

She ran an abnormal human speed as she kept hearing sword clashing. Upon reaching the door, the Elite was sent flying through the door and into a wall. Kelly wastes no time and fire pellets at the Elite, who had his shields on. The pellets did minor damage to the shielding, only to disable it momentarily and the Elite closed in. Kelly readies with whatever weapons she has at the moment and the Alien was about to strike his energy sword when he felt a sharp pain underneath.

The Elite looked down to see in the horror of his abdomen being pierced by the same sword as the human he previously fought.

"あなたはそれをするべきではなかった (You shouldn't have done that)", it was the sound of Ronin's voice as he twisted his blade, causing further pain and damage to the Elite. Kelly watches as Ronin said the final words the Elite would ever hear, "これはあなたが殺したすべてのためです (This is for all you have killed)".

Ronin pulls the sword out, cuts one leg of the Elite as the Alien tried to fight back. The Elite thrusts his blade at the Ronin, but the alien wasn't expecting the quick reflex of the human as the latter pushes the sword away, chopped off the Elite's arm, and then proceeded to slit the alien's throat. Ronin watches over the Elite as the latter drowns in their blood.

Death #10: Elite, who is properly dead, by a slit to the throat and drowning in blood.

Kelly walked up to Ronin and ask if he's okay. Ronin replied with a nod and the two went back to the radio room.

Back at the ground floor, the 2 spartans and 4 Shadow Team members held off the Covenant onslaught as waves of them were descending to the entrance.

"Gah", Havoc grunts, "These bastards don't quit do they". Everyone is firing their weapons at each other, grenades  flinging from the inside to the outside, and many close calls. Heav mows down as many Covenant as he could before the mini-gun is out of ammo. He throws it aside then he fires his machine gun at the alien soldiers trying to enter.

"Shadow 4 to Shadow Actual", Ronin called Arthur, "They've received the message and are sending aircraft to assist". "That's good", Arthur replied then killed 3 grunts with a grenade.

Death #11-13: Grunts death by a grenade.

"We're on our way down to assist", Ronin continues. "You did destroy the radio equipment, right", Arthur asked, "Eh not much to destroy really", Ronin replied.

Soon, both Ronin and Kelly made their descend to the ground floor to assist their team and getting out of the tower before the Covenant overwhelms them. While riding the elevator, the two received a radio from Cross, "They're targeting the tower! Ronin, Kelly, brace". With that Ronin laid on the floor just as the plasma destroyed one side of the towers causing the structure to crumble and timer to the North East.

Inside the shaft, both Ronin and Kelly braced as the elevator carriage made contact with the roof at such speed, it rattles the inside of the carriage.

"You alright", Kelly asked Ronin, "Yeah, you", He replied and Kelly responded with a thumbs up.

Ronin and Kelly then break the upper carriage of the elevator (It's down for them) and get themselves free and hid into the forest, after witnessing the Covenant units and the destruction of the tower they were in.

Meanwhile, the boys got the confirmation that both Kelly and Ronin are safe. Arthur calls out the other and they made their escape. They broke through the eastern entrance and make a mad dash to the forest as the army of Covenant soldiers follow them as well.

Everyone converges into the darkness of the forest as the Pelicans rain down gunfire on the remaining troopers. Shadow Team is filled with ecstasy and relief as the UNSC demolished what few of the Covenant is left. What they didn't know, the Covenant that has headed to the tower was returning to the site, where they see the Spartans and Shadow Team.

Soon, an Elite makes his war cry as the units of the Covenant strike team charge straight for the humans left standing.

Cross looks back and said, "We got company", Havoc takes his grenade launcher and launches 3 cluster grenades upon the Covenant troopers, killing most of the unshielded and left them with the Elites and Brutes.

It was a bloodbath for the Covenant as their numbers began to dwindle. Their overwhelming advantage slowly lowered back as each blood of the units was shed.

Left with six to clean up, Shadow Team ended them:

Arthur used his broadsword on his right and pierces the Elite's arm, before trying to stab it. However, the Elite was smart enough to catch the sword arm and bring it up. With no other choice, Henry dropped his sword to his left hand and stabs the Elite's foot.

Being released from the alien's grip, Henry hits the pommel to the Elite's jaw, which then stabs the stomach and slashes off the Elite's head - thus killing it.

Death #14: Elite's head cut off.

Inferno played with the Elite for a bit, till he bashed the Elite down and split the head in two with his axe

Death #15: Elite's head split.

Cross shot the Elite's arms and legs with his "Hand Cannon" (A Revolver) before delivering the final shot straight through the head cleanly.

Death #16: Elite's headshot

As an addition, Cross used his combat knife and slit the throat before stabbing the heart, preventing the Elite to ever rise.

Heav makes short work with a Brute he was fighting. The Brute may have good punches, but Heav takes those punches, punched them back with the Brute's arm, dizzying the alien, trip it with his Kanabo and finally, stab the chest with the front spike, breaking several bones and killing the Brute in the process.

Death #17: Brute's chest caved in by Heav's Kanabo

Havoc, much like Heav, uses the Brute strength he has and hits the Brute in all matters of pain. When the alien is exhausted, Havoc walked towards it, spike on his hand and punches the alien's face so hard with the spike, it mutilated the face till it's just blood and then Havoc proceeded to obliterate the head with his mace.

Death #18: Brute's head being obliterated by Havoc's mace

Ronin's Brute is not having a greater time than his other fellow Brutes. Ronin is fast, he is agile and unpredictable. Ronin's blade can cut into the deep flesh of the Brute. He cut off the arm, the leg and right before he finishes he said this, "ばかげた獣を死ぬ (Die you dumb beast)", before chopping off the head of the Brute.

Death #19: Brute's head chopped off.

Blue Team went to check on Shadow team, which they saw 6 corpses around them, each being killed differently than the rest.

As soon as the rest of the Marines and ODST came to see Shadow Team, an Elite unknowingly tried to backstab one of the members of Shadow Team, but the sound of the energy was so loud, Heav moved to the side and smacked the Elite. He did manage to grab the Elite and takes away the energy sword before he uses both of his hands and grasps the Elite's head. The alien wasn't so comfortable and was terrified as he felt his skull having too much pressure. Eventually, there is no head on that body anymore and with a loud crack, what was once the Elite is no longer alive.

Death #20: Elite's head crushed

The people around the Spartans and Shadow Team were shocked and scared by just the raw power of just Heav's arms. They could only imagine how strong the rest of Shadow Team would be.

After the clean-up, the Spartans returned with Shadow Team and finally, Captain Keyes is given a face-to-face conversation with their newly acquired assets.