Halo

The Flag Express

I wake and find myself in the base. The blue base. I move quickly to the alcove and swap the pistol for the shotgun, then check on the present position. Pootle has arrived, I see, and our side is down two to nothing on flag points. The sides are even, now Pootle and I have joined, and I presume the disparity in the scores is a result of blue being outnumbered.

Outside I find a hog in the usual place. Pootle must have chosen a different route, perhaps because he knows that I will need the hog. I climb into the driver's seat and set off. There is no sign of the enemy as yet.

Bumping down into the next valley, I can see that the rocket launcher is in its usual place. I screech to a stop beside the rocks and quickly exchange my standard assault rifle for the launcher. Then I am back in the hog and heading back towards the big cave that leads up to the high part of the island. Halfway through I make a brief stop to pick up the active camouflage.

Nearly invisible now, I scramble up through the cave, turn wildly to the right and enter the cave that leads to the red base. I have still not seen any sign of the enemy but from now on I must be especially cautious. I whip the hog around near the end of the cave and dismount. At that moment I hear the voice on the intercom. "Blue team has the flag." Good, Pootle is being his usual efficient self. A quick check on the heads-up confirms that it is Pootle that has done the deed.

I leave the cave, cautious yet confident in my invisibility, and approach the red base. It appears to be deserted. I enter and check around the corner. A red guy is waiting there and about to fire but I let him have a rocket and he is blown away. Remembering, for once, to reload, I press on deeper into the base and check the alcoves. They are empty and I head back towards the entrance.

As I approach the empty flag jack, the intercom speaks in my ear. "Blue team score". Suddenly I have the red flag in my hands. Now that was good timing, I grin to myself. I run from the base towards the cave where my hog awaits. The camouflage is dying before I am halfway there and some small arms fire is hitting me from somewhere. The shield is absorbing it without trouble, however, and I run on, confident that I can be around the corner and into the cave before my pursuer can break my shield.

I am in the cave and leap for the driver's seat of the hog, hitting the accelerator almost before I land in the seat. The hog responds and I am away and out of the cave without another shot hitting me. Over the brow of the hill I take a right to bring me through the central valley. I do not stop but head straight for the archway that leads to blue base.

The path is narrow here and I slow to ensure that the hog does not fall over the cliff. Then the base is in sight and I accelerate towards the entrance. At the last moment I leap from the hog and run for the doorway, disregarding the crash of the hog charging into the wall behind me. I run for the flag and hear the words in my headset: "Blue team score". Instantly there follows more information. "Blue team has the flag." Pootle is as fast as ever, it seems. The Death Island Flag Express is up and running!

Besieged!

Pootle and I arrive at the same time in the blue base. There are lots of others in here and from the entrances come the sounds of many explosions. The shotgun has gone so I head for an entrance with just the assault rifle in my hands. As I emerge, there is a huge explosion and I re-spawn a few seconds later, back in the base.

Many are trying to get out but the enemy has the place sealed off. They have tanks surrounding the base and are picking off anyone who tries to get out. I try the portals - they are blocked, no doubt by vehicles parked on them.

A glance at the score reveals that blue is in a desperate position. The enemy has only one flag point but their kill rate is ridiculously high. "Campers", says Pootle and I agree.

The blue team is demoralized, very few even attempting to leave the base now. But Pootle loses his temper after sizing up the situation. He leaps through the entrance and dodges about, firing wildly all the time. The tank nearest the base explodes and disgorges its dead occupant. "Nice 'nade", comments a blue team member, then Pootle is dead and re-spawning amongst us.

But he wastes no time and is immediately leaping for the other entrance. I realize that, with the first tank dealt with, that entrance might be clear now. I head for it, cautiously sticking my head out when I arrive. It is safe, all enemy guns are directed at Pootle on the other side of the base. He is running and jumping, twisting in a blur of speed, while sending out a hail of grenades, automatic and pistol fire. The enemy falls back before him. Nailed through the sight grille with a pistol shot, a tank driver collapses from his seat and the tank goes dead.

I start shooting in an attempt to help Pootle but he doesn't really need me. In a frenzy of movement and withering fire, he takes on three red guys who are running towards the base. It seems impossible that he should survive their combined fire but his reflexes and tactical skill are such that he is being hit very rarely. I know from experience just how difficult it is to hit the Pootle and am not surprised when the three reds go down, leaving Pootle bloodied but unbowed.

He runs for the base to replenish his health and I look around to realize that the work is done - the reds have been beaten off for the moment. Then Pootle is out again and leaping into a hog. He waits and I run for the gunner's position. Then we are off on a hectic and wild ride towards the red base, stopping only for Pootle to pick up a rocket launcher. I spray the mountains and rocks with the hog's machine gun - just seeing that it works.

We arrive at the enemy base in a rush, Pootle leaping from the driver's seat before the hog crashes to a stop at the entrance. I keep up a steady fire at all likely places but there is no-one to hit - they are all in the base being blown up by Pootle's rockets and 'nades. He grabs their flag and rushes outside to where the hog awaits and we are off once again, bucking and leaping over the terrain.

The reds are obviously stunned by the sudden turn in their fortunes and we are not interfered with on the ride home. Pootle scores and is immediately out again, ready for another go. Then we hear the welcome words: "Blue team has the flag". It seems the blues have taken heart after Pootle's magnificent display and they are now fighting aggressively again. We head for the red base to help the brave soul who has purloined the red flag.

And so it goes. Pootle and I get separated eventually but the blue score mounts steadily until the reds start to leave. Pootle laughs and comments, "Oh they do not like their own medicine!" Eventually, so many reds have left that the game becomes unfair. We continue for a while but leave as the boredom rate mounts.

Pootle compliments me but I tell him that I was a mere passenger - he turned that game single-handedly.