First Strike - Chief v Brute

The Brute tackled John, knocking his weapon from his grasp. Even with his MJOLNIR armor, John was not as strong as the alien.

 It pounded on him with bare fists—broke through his shielding, grabbed his neck, and squeezed.

 Red flashes played across John's vision. He began to black out.

John struggled and tried to pry the hands from his throat. The tendons in the Brute's forearms were solid bands of steel—and the creature was so determined to rip John's head off that a full clip from a rifle into its chest hadn't even slowed it down.

 Behind him, John felt another explosion thunder though the stone floor, followed by the staccato rattle of rifle fire.

 Blue Team was busy with another threat. He was on his own.

 John blinked. The darkness dimming the edge of his vision wouldn't clear.

 John watched his shield bar flicker and sluggishly recharge. If it built up enough repulsive force, he might have a chance to wriggle out of the Brute's grasp. If he tried too quickly, though, the Brute wouldn't lose its grip and could pound his shield flat again.

 The Brute bellowed, and globules of spittle spattered onto the Chief's visor. It leaned closer, screwing its massive hands tighter around his throat.

 John's vision narrowed. His windpipe swelled, and he gagged.

 Shields were at one quarter charge. It'd have to be enough.

 John had been in similar death-grip holds before—endless hours of training on the wrestling mats with his teammates and martial arts specialists provided by Chief Mendez. There were ways to escape a larger, stronger opponent. And there were al- ways countermoves to those escapes. And countermoves to those counters. It was like a game of chess, except the pieces were arms and legs, torque and your center of mass ... and most impor- tantly your mind.

He pulled his knees to his chest, and tucked his torso toward his pelvis at the same time. He twisted ninety degrees and shot out both legs and arms, and uncoiled his body. The maneuver was called "shrimping."

John's head slipped from the Brute's grasp.

- Halo: First Strike, Chapter 33, 34