Beneath the ragging space battle between the human fleet lead by the battle barge Terminator and a Covenant battle group, was the desert planet of Madregar, where a small band of humans had established a base in which the time machine prototype was hidden. The base was being protected by a series of defense lines comprised of machinegun turrets, camouflaged artillery gun locations and anti-air missile launchers, creating a formidable defensive perimeter. If anyone was lucky enough to breach that first line would come across Warthog jeeps, Scorpion Tanks and Hornet aircraft, ready to unleash hell upon them. The planet itself was a tremendous challenge for both the attackers and the defenders due to the fact that the temperature during the day could reach sixty seven degrees Celsius while at night minus eighty. Millions of years of climate change had made the deserts rulers of the landscape allowing sporadically low vegetation to dig up its way through the thick sand for a taste of sun light. The battle of the two fleets in the lower atmosphere of Madregar had already lasted two hours during which the night sky was illuminated by laser beams and explosions which reminded of fireworks at the end of the parades during the Earth's Unification Day. In the HQ of the base, a war council was taking place in which a debate on what actions could or should be taken by the men of the base after the end of the battle above. All squad commanders were present including Spartan-118, exchanging opinions but without agreement whatsoever. The war council came to an end when an observer of the first defense line came into the HQ room. 

"Sorry to interrupt gentlemen but we have Covies inbound". 

"Where?", said Spartan-118. 

The observer and the rest of the commanders stood above a large table where a holographic image was created, depicting the base and its surrounding areas. 

"There are their landing sites. On hill one-seven-five and around the Thypsa oasis four kilometers from here", said the observer pointing at the locations. There was nothing else to be discussed, an attack was imminent. 

"To arms men! We must defend the prototype!", said Spartan-118 and with a few men, run to reinforce the frontline. 

"What's the situation observer?", said S118 as soon as he reached the front.

"Sir, there is a large number of Brutes and Grunts coming down the hill with an escort of Wraiths".  

"Well, this is going to be fun", said Spartan-118 and took place in the trenches ahead. The machinegun turrets had the honor of taking the first blood and soon after the artillery followed their example. The Covenant were decimated and their remaining forces retreated to all directions.  

"Finish them!", ordered the Spartan and so a group of thirty men left the trenches taking over the pursuit of the enemy's remnants. After twenty minutes or so part of the team reappeared on the scopes running and shouting. 

"What are they saying?", asked Spartan-118 the observer who was watching them through his hand glasses. 

"I can't say for sure, sir". 

"Give me those...Stealth Elites, Stealth Elites! I'm going in, tell everyone to hold fire until we're back", said Spartan-118 and lashed out of the trench and run to aid his men. He made it to the remaining troops but they had lost ten men. They fell back to the trench line and then the artillery fired some round that altered the landscape. Then a huge blast took place above their heads as if a bomb exploded and destroyed a whole capital ship. And that was exactly what had happened. Hundreds of space ship pieces started falling from the sky making them the first rain on the planet in three hundred years. That was a sign that meant victory for the human fleet in space which cheered up the men on the ground. 

"Spartan, sir, you might want to take a look at this", said the observer giving his hand glasses to the Spartan. 

"That doesn't look good", said Spartan-118 and turned to his men who were overrun by fear and agony of what was yet to come.  

"What was it, sir?", asked one of the men. 

"It appears that alongside the debris of the alien ship, came survivors too". 

"How many, sir", took the courage to ask another marine. 

"Enough", replied the Spartan coldly. "Everyone fall back to the second line now! I'll hold them off", ordered Spartan-118 and ones more he emerged from the trench line and attacked the Covenant head on until his men retreat was complete. He sprinted towards the Covenant forces that were trying to regroup when the Spartan jumped right in the middle of them. There must have been hundreds of them but that didn't stop the Spartan from killing them. With his speed and strength, he obliderated many and had rightfully earned the nick name all Spartans had: Demon. The skirmish that followed lasted for around fifteen minutes before the Spartan received order to fall back as the retreat was complete. That was the only think that saved the Covenant from total annihilation. He then returned to the command center to make account of the previous battle. 

"How many did we lose today?", said the Spartan. 

"Twelve dead and another thirty wounded, sir". 

"And the Coveis?". 

"We are estimating at least two hundred".  

"It could have been much worse without you, Spartan", said Cpt. Klark. 

"Just doing my job, sir plus the fight is not over yet. The Covenant are massing for another assault. This time it's gonna be more difficult for us". 

"The Spartan's right, we should call the fleet for reinforcements". 

"I'm on it", said Spartan-118. 

He went to the communications room and began a transmission with the battle barge ''Terminator'' in hope of back up. 

"Mayday, mayday this is Sierra-118 from Axios base to ''Terminator'' requesting reinforcements, does anybody hear me, over". 

"We hear you Spartan, glad you're in one piece. The battle here is over so we'll be sending you back up in no time, over". 

"Acknowledged, Terminator we are waiting your assistance, over and out".