Unexpected Reinforcements

The extraction point was just ahead, a small clearing on the far side of the ravine where their evac ship hovered, engines humming in the low, dim light. Covenant drop ships patrolled the skies above, their shadows moving like predators across the barren landscape. The mercenary and Alyssa moved cautiously, keeping low to the ground as they neared the ship.

"We need to move fast," Alyssa said, glancing up at the sky. "We don't have much time before those patrols spot us."

The mercenary grunted in agreement, his rifle held tight against his chest as his eyes scanned the area. His body ached from the fight with the Hunter, his muscles protesting every movement, but the system was already compensating, feeding him steady streams of energy to keep him going.

[Energy: 45%.]

They reached the landing zone just as the ship's ramp lowered with a mechanical hiss. Alyssa was the first to step onto the platform, her eyes darting to the sky above as she waved him forward.

"Let's move."

But before the mercenary could take a step, the unmistakable sound of thrusters filled the air. He tensed, eyes snapping to the horizon as a small, agile drop ship zoomed into view, its engines roaring as it descended toward their position.

"Incoming," Alyssa warned, raising her rifle as she took cover behind the nearest boulder. The mercenary followed her lead, dropping into position with his weapon trained on the approaching ship.

It wasn't Covenant. That much was clear from the ship's design—a ragtag vessel, patched together with scavenged parts and heavy armor plates. It bore none of the sleek, streamlined features of UNSC or Covenant craft. No, this was something else entirely.

The drop ship hovered above them for a moment before it descended, landing with a heavy thud just a few meters away. The ramp lowered with a creak, and out stepped a man—broad-shouldered, armored, with a helmet tucked under his arm and a grin that was just a bit too confident given the circumstances.

"Well, ain't this a bloody warm welcome," the man said, his thick Australian accent cutting through the tense silence. He glanced around at the Covenant patrols in the sky and then back to the mercenary and Alyssa, completely unfazed. "Looks like I showed up just in time, eh?"

Alyssa shot the mercenary a questioning glance, but he could only shrug. This newcomer wasn't part of their team, and yet, there he was, striding toward them like he had just walked into a bar fight he was ready to enjoy.

The man approached, offering a casual wave. "Name's Lachlan. Outer colonies mercenary, jack-of-all-trades, and today's unexpected backup." He slapped the side of his drop ship as if introducing an old friend. "This beauty's mine. Saw you folks in a bit of a bind and figured you could use some help."

The mercenary narrowed his eyes, still keeping his rifle raised. "Who sent you?"

Lachlan's grin widened, his blue eyes sparkling with mischief. "You know, mate, no one really sent me. Let's just say I've got a knack for finding myself in the middle of things." He paused, glancing at Alyssa with a wink. "Plus, I've got a soft spot for people who look like they could use a hand."

Alyssa frowned. "And we're just supposed to trust you?"

Lachlan shrugged. "Well, you could shoot me, but that might complicate things. Or, you can take my help and we can all get out of here in one piece. Your call, but I'm bloody good at what I do."

The mercenary exchanged a glance with Alyssa, both of them silently weighing their options. They didn't have time for long deliberations—the Covenant would be on them any minute now. And as much as he hated relying on someone he didn't know, something about Lachlan's demeanor made it hard to believe he was a threat. He was reckless, sure, but the mercenary had seen enough of the galaxy to recognize when someone was genuinely offering help.

Finally, he lowered his rifle, though not completely. "Fine. But you pull anything, and I'll put you down myself."

Lachlan's grin didn't falter. "Fair enough, mate. Now, let's get to work, shall we?"

Without waiting for a response, he turned on his heel and headed back toward his ship. "I've got some toys on board that'll keep those Covenant buggers busy while we make our escape. Trust me, they'll never see it coming."

Alyssa raised an eyebrow. "Is this guy for real?"

The mercenary shook his head, still not entirely sure what to make of Lachlan. "I guess we'll find out."

As Lachlan disappeared into his ship, the mercenary and Alyssa took up positions near the landing zone, scanning the sky for incoming Covenant forces. The tension in the air was thick—an uneasy silence hanging over them as they waited.

"You sure about this?" Alyssa asked, her voice low.

"No," the mercenary admitted. "But we don't have a choice."

Before Alyssa could respond, the ground rumbled beneath them. Lachlan emerged from his ship again, carrying a device that looked like a mix between a portable cannon and a makeshift EMP generator.

"This baby," Lachlan said, setting the device down with a flourish, "is gonna buy us all the time we need."

The mercenary eyed the device warily. "What is it?"

"A distraction," Lachlan replied with a wink. "Let's just say it'll make them wish they'd stayed home."

He activated the device, and immediately the air filled with a low hum, followed by a sudden surge of energy that sent a ripple through the ground. In the distance, several of the Covenant patrols paused, their ships hovering in confusion as the device sent out its interference.

Lachlan grinned. "See? Told you I was good."

The mercenary watched as the Covenant ships hesitated, their systems clearly scrambled by whatever Lachlan had rigged. It wasn't much, but it was enough to buy them a few precious minutes. Time they couldn't afford to waste.

"Now," Lachlan said, clapping his hands together, "let's get the hell out of here before those bastards recover."

The mercenary and Alyssa didn't need any more convincing. They sprinted toward their evac ship, the ramp already lowering in anticipation. Lachlan followed close behind, his drop ship engines firing up as the distraction device continued to wreak havoc on the Covenant sensors.

As they boarded the evac ship, Alyssa glanced at the mercenary, a bemused look on her face. "He's something else."

The mercenary nodded, watching as Lachlan waved to them from his own drop ship, the Australian mercenary's grin still plastered on his face despite the chaos around them. "Yeah," he muttered. "But I think he'll be useful."

The ship's engines roared to life, and they shot into the sky, leaving the Covenant base and the Forerunner artifact behind. As they soared through the atmosphere, the mercenary couldn't shake the feeling that this was far from over. The artifact, the system, the strange energy he'd felt coursing through him—there were too many questions, too many unknowns.

But for now, they had survived. And with Lachlan's unexpected arrival, they might just have the backup they needed for whatever came next.